A doctor has been suspended for attacking a man after being called out to treat him due to a shortage of ambulances.

Martin Thom was called to see a 25-year-old man who was reported to be collapsed in a street and under the influence of alcohol in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.

He had been sent out to the incident in May last year as the on-call GP with no additional support because an ambulance was not available.

When the patient became aggressive, Dr Thom hit the man's head off a wall and punched him twice in the face.

He was fined £360 at Peterhead Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to the incident last November.

The 43-year-old doctor said he was "under significant pressures with heavy workloads".

A Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) tribunal heard that he had undertaken training to control stress since the incident.

The MPTS ruled on Thursday that Dr Thom should be suspended for two months.

The panel had considered striking Dr Thom off, however ruled that the suspension would "send a clear message" about the "unacceptable nature of the conduct".

A statement on their conclusions said: "You are held in high regard as a GP in the local area by other professionals as well as by patients, family and friends.

"A number of the testimonial witnesses stated that they were shocked to learn about what had occurred, which they regarded as completely out of character.

"The tribunal accepts that you took some time to understand your role in what occurred and to accept responsibility for it."