A former patient of disgraced psychiatrist William Kerr has complained to the GMC about his wife, Beryl Bromham.

The patient, Kay Williams, told Leeds Crown Court in December she had confided in Dr Bromham about allegedly being indecently assaulted by Dr Kerr - unaware the two doctors were married.

She said Dr Bromham, also a psychiatrist, seemed very genuine and caring as she told her about the alleged incident in the hall of her Harrogate home. "I remember she got quite cross about my husband and said he should give me more support," Kay Williams told the jury.

She said she only found out later that Dr Bromham was Dr Kerr's wife.

The jury was unable to decide on the allegation of indecent assault during the hearing-of-fact.

But Dr Kerr, 75, of Alne, near Easingwold, who was unfit to plead and could not give evidence, was found to have carried out a different indecent assault and was placed on the sex offenders register. Mrs Williams, who has waived her right to anonymity to speak to the Evening Press, complained to the GMC about both Dr Kerr and Dr Bromham, both of whom are retired. Her complaint partially related to Dr Bromham's alleged failure to inform her she was married to Dr Kerr.

In its reply to Mrs Williams, the GMC asked for further details of her allegations against Dr Bromham, including the date on which she told the psychiatrist what had allegedly happened with Dr Kerr.

"This is important because Dr Bromham would have been expected to act on this information, notwithstanding the fact that she was his wife," said Simon Haywood, of the GMC's Fitness to Practise Directorate, in a letter to Mrs Williams.

The GMC said its first step generally was to discuss complaints directly with doctors for their comments. Neither doctor was under legal obligation to comment, but the GMC could make a decision regardless of whether comments were received.

The GMC recently suspended Dr Kerr.

The GMC refused to make any comment when approached about the complaint about Dr Bromham.

When Dr Bromham was phoned by the Evening Press to give her opportunity to comment, she said: "No comment." Her husband added: "No comment. Put the phone down, Beryl."

Updated: 11:47 Thursday, May 03, 2001