A DOCTOR who referred patients to a firm of personal injury lawyers is being investigated by the General Medical Council (GMC).

Dr Ijaz Hayat, who runs a surgery in Walthamstow, recommended Higgins and Co to a road accident victim.

He may have breached the GMC's code of conduct, an investigation by ITV's London Tonight found.

Dr Hayat was said to have given his name as a reference in a hand written note which the patient Hasanein Ba-Alawi, a 25-year-old IT consultant, was told to take to the firm while he was being treated by the doctor for whiplash at Whipps Cross University Hospital on March 22.

If Dr Hayat is found to have accepted payment for the referall, he could be struck off.

Higgins and Co, based in Birkenhead, Merseyside, face investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.