A doctor accused of inappropriately accessing the medical records of patients, including several high profile figures, should be struck off, Scotland's leading patients' group said yesterday.

A doctor accused of inappropriately accessing the medical records of patients, including several high profile figures, should be struck off, Scotland's leading patients' group said yesterday.

Newsreader Jackie Bird and reporter Elizabeth Quigley are among seven BBC journalists said to have had their records accessed by a doctor in Fife for no apparent reason. Several Old Firm players were also targetted, it is claimed.

The doctor, who has not been identified, is facing charges over the matter and a report has been sent to the Procurator Fiscal by Fife Police.

Liz Watt, chairwoman of the Scottish Patients' Association, described the alleged conduct as "utterly unacceptable."

She said: "This is an absolute breach of confidentiality. He should be struck off for taking advantage of his position if it is found to be the case that he did access the records.

It is alleged that the doctor accessed the emergency care summary for Ms Bird, her colleagues and the football players. The summary was brought in this year to give NHS staff, such as those in an accident emergency departments, the right information about a patient if their GP surgery cannot be contacted.

Every person in Scotland will have a summary created in their name and it will include date of birth, GP details, an identity number, and information about medication and any bad reactions to prescribed drugs. The details are copied from GP records and stored electronically.

NHS staff must ask permission before accessing the summary but do not have to seek permission if the patient is unconscious. Patients have the right not to have a summary on file.

NHS staff can only look at the record if they have a password and a record is supposed to be kept of everyone who looks at the details.

NHS Fife wrote to the patients involved after passing information to the police in October, and the doctor was reported to the Procurator Fiscal in November.