DUNEDIN - One of the country's leading psychiatrists and a Medical Council member, Dr Tim McKergow, has resigned from his posts over "health and professional behaviour" issues.
Dr McKergow was senior psychiatrist at Ashburn Hall in Dunedin, the only private psychiatric hospital in the country.
His resignation was confirmed by Otago psychiatrichospital's medical director, Dr John Adams.
Dr McKergow has also resigned his professional membership of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
"Dr McKergow has resigned and no longer works at Ashburn Hall," Dr Adams said.
"I can only repeat what was told to staff and patients at the time, that his sudden resignation was due to a health issue and professional behaviour," Dr Adams said.
"No complaint has been made at Ashburn Hall, but the Medical Council is aware of the circumstances," he said.
Dr Adams declined to elaborate.
The council's communications coordinator, Susan Pattullo, said Dr McKergow had resigned his 1998 appointment to the council, which was due to expire in January 2001, for personal reasons earlier this month. Dr McKergow could not be contacted for comment.
Ashburn Hall, which cares for up to 60 patients, is run by a charitable trust which bought the hospital for an undisclosed sum from the University of Otago in 1998.
It is funded equally by the Health Funding Authority, ACC and private income.
