A DOCTOR who inhaled laughing gas while on duty at a Merseyside children’s A&E ward has had conditions lifted from his registration.

Dr Jonathan Chahal potentially put the safety of his patients at risk while indulging in “Entonox parties” with his colleagues at Ormskirk Hospital.

Yesterday, a General Medical Council (GMC) panel lifted conditions put on his licence a year ago.

A hearing in July last year found his fitness to practise was impaired and the GMC restricted his role.

But the panel heard during the private hearing he had performed “exceptionally well” in his current job at the Royal Preston Hospital and decided he could now practise freely.

Dr Chahal, 34, has now been appointed as a specialist trainee with the Mersey Deanery, meaning he will be practising in Merseyside hospitals from August.

He used the medical anaesthetic Entonox from a gas canister on five occasions during the summer of 2007, four of which were while he was on duty.

He also persuaded seven nurses to inhale Entonox, frequently administered in childbirth to alleviate pain, at the same time as him.

On one occasion, he was heard giggling in the ward’s resuscitation room and told nurses the drug was “fun” and “made you feel floaty”.

Dr Chahal was sacked from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where he later transferred, for gross misconduct after the allegations came to light.

Minutes from the hearing said: “You admitted that your conduct was irresponsible and inappropriate and expressed remorse and regret for your actions, which you described as ‘unbelievably foolish’.

“You also told that panel you would never repeat such behaviour in the future.

“The panel has noted the letter from your educational supervisor.

“She confirms you have been employed at the Royal Preston Hospital as a clinical teaching fellow in neonatal medicine since January, 2009.

“She reports you have performed exceptionally well and your clinical skills have progressed significantly.”

The document added: “It was submitted, on your behalf, that the misconduct element of your case is now in the past, with no recurrence of misconduct in the intervening period of conditional registration.

“The panel was told you have behaved ‘immaculately’ and your previous misconduct no longer carries implications of impairment.”

The GMC argued there was still evidence to support a finding of impaired fitness to practise, including opinion from medical experts.

But the panel found this was outweighed by evidence in Dr Chahal’s favour.

Dr Chahal said during the 2009 hearing he did not appreciate at the time how wrong it was to take the gas.

He argued he had made “a lot of progress” since the incidents, was confident there was no risk to himself or the public, and inisted he would never repeat his behaviour.

The doctor was employed by Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals NHS Trust between August, 2006, and July, 2007, before transferring to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, from where he was sacked.