The Department of Health can confirm that Mr Gunter Zimmerman, a dentist employed by the 65 Woodbourne Dental Surgery, based at 65 Woodbourne Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, has been suspended from practicing as a dentist by the General Dental Council for a period of six months. Mr Zimmerman has 28 days in which to appeal against the Council’s decision but in the meantime has left the Practice and is no longer providing dental services to patients. The matter which led to his suspension is fully detailed on the General Dental Council website: www.gdc-uk.org/General+public/Fitness+to+Practise+Hearings/Recent+hearings/ and relates to private treatment which is not available at NHS expense and which was provided in 2006. The Department is not aware of any other concerns about Mr Zimmerman’s professional competence or any problems relating to NHS patients and is working with Mr Van Rooyen, Mr Zimmerman’s employer, to ensure that disruption to the dental care of Mr Zimmerman’s NHS patients is minimised. - ENDS -