A SOUTHAMPTON doctor is under investigation by the General Medical Council (GMC) after claims he carried out unhygienic home circumcisions.

Hospital surgeon Dr Muhamad Siddiqui operated his own mobile circumcision service outside the NHS and carried out the procedure at the child's home.

The GMC launched an investigation after a complaint by the child's parents.

Kelly Braiha and her husband Ghali, from Littlehampton in West Sussex, claim 23-month-old Najem was left traumatised and suffered an infection because Dr Siddiqui, who works for University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, did not take hygienic precautions.

He is also accused of not being insured for his private work and of carrying out procedures without the necessary Care Quality Commission (CQC) registration.

He denies all the allegations against him.

After an initial investigation by the GMC, the case has been referred to a fitness-to-practise hearing.

In the meantime, the GMC has issued an interim order banning him from carrying out circumcisions anywhere other than in a hospital or clinical setting.

But Dr Siddiqui says he wants to continue performing home circumcisions at a private address in Southampton.

He is said to be in the process of resigning from his NHS job and surrendering his GMC registration, which means he would not be able to practise as a doctor. However, regulatory loopholes would enable him to carry on performing circumcisions privately.

Asked why he intended to carry out a home circumcision when there was a GMC order preventing him from doing so, Dr Siddiqui said: “I don't agree with the limitations the GMC has imposed on me.”

Healthcare workers have to be registered with the CQC if they want to perform home circumcisions but some are calling for tighter controls.

Consultant surgeon Feilim Murphy, secretary of the British Association of Paediatric Urologists, said: “The biggest issue is there are a number of children who are circumcised by people who are not experienced and don't understand what is required, and there can be significant complications with that.

“Unfortunately children have died in the last number of years in Britain and Ireland from circumcision-related complications.

“It does make sense that everybody should register, that everybody should be on the same playing field.

“It makes sense for the child it makes sense for the family it makes sense for everyone.”