A surgeon who was suspended after threatening and abusing his partner has been allowed back to work to fight coronavirus.
Hip specialist Graeme Holt was excluded from his job at Crosshouse hospital near Kilmarnock after being convicted over a bust-up with Jennifer Joseph, who is a nurse.
The consultant, 43, also has a conviction for assaulting a previous partner in 2015.
Earlier this month, NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s medical director Dr Crawford McGuffie said Holt had been suspended “pending the conclusion of the legal process”.
Holt is not due to be sentenced until Tuesday but McGuffie admitted the consultant will be allowed back to work this week.
He added: “While this is not in direct response to the pandemic, the health board and patients will benefit from his return to duty.”
Holt’s suspension caused operations to be cancelled and appointments to be delayed.
The Rangers fan flew into a rage with his partner after watching his team beat Celtic 2-1 at Parkhead in December.
An argument erupted after Jennifer found out his ex-wife had been at the house they share in Irvine.
Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard Holt started arguing with Jennifer, shouting and swearing at her and calling her names.
He admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear or alarm. The specialist had also been accused of assaulting Jennifer but his plea of not guilty was accepted.
The Royal College of Surgeons has issued guidance that surgeons would likely be deployed to other areas of healthcare to help battle the coronavirus pandemic.
Other health boards have said they will not be inviting suspended staff to return.
