AN EVESHAM woman has thrown her support behind her doctor after it was revealed he had been handed a warning for repeatedly failing to refer a patient who later died of cancer.

This week it was revealed Dr Stephen Grant of Abbey Medical Practice in Evesham has been given a warning by the General Medical Council (GMC) for failing to refer a patient who later died of rib and spine cancer.

Although the GMC said Dr Grant's care "fell seriously below the standard expected of a reasonably competent GP", long-time patient Claire Perkins of South Littleton, who was diagnosed with Chron's disease last year, described him as "a fantastic doctor".

"If it wasn't for Dr Grant's urgent referral and high standard of care I could have been in a critical condition with a burst bowel," she said.

The 28-year-old added Dr Grant had been "so supportive" during her treatment and diagnosis.

"I will continue using Dr Grant as my GP for as long as he is practising and only hope that other patients of his that know his high standard of care will support him through what must be a unpleasant time," she said.

Dr Grant was handed the GMC warning in July last year and it will remain on his record until July 2018.

In 2007 Dr Grant was criticised by a coroner following the death of an elderly patient who he had not tested for the infection C. difficile.

But the coroner's comments prompted a flood of letters of support to the Evesham Journal from patients praising Dr Grant's care.