Helpline set up after doctor charged with child offences

A health trust in North Devon has set up a dedicated helpline for patients - after one of its doctors was charged with making and distributing indecent images of children.

Jonathan Walsh has been sacked from his job in children's and adolescent services and will appear in court next month.

Consultant paediatrician Jonathan Walsh was employed at North Devon District Hospital until last week when the health trust sacked him after he was charged by police with seven counts of making and distributing indecent images of children. Mr Walsh, from Barnstaple, worked in the children's and adolescent services department but had been suspended since July 2015 following a police investigation.

Northern Devon Healthcare Trust say they understand that none of these charges relate to patients of theirs that Mr Walsh had contact with. No one from the Trust could speak on camera but they said this in a statement

Mr Walsh is set to appear at Barnstaple Magistrates Court on 15 July 2016.