ANGER at the perceived lenient punishment of a doctor who failed to diagnose the blood poisoning that killed a nine-month-old Newport baby, spilled onto the city's streets on Friday.

Around 250 people marched from John Frost Square to the Royal Gwent Hospital, to protest the four-month suspension given Dr Salawati Abdul Salam - who discharged Aleesha Evans in August 2006 - and calling for her to be struck off.

Chanting "justice for Aleesha" and "Salawati out", protesters spent an hour on Cardiff Road outside the Royal Gwent, leaving scores of yellow ribbons tied to hospital railings in Aleesha's memory.

Aleesha's mother Shiree Hanbury and grandmother Karen Hanbury were among them, as was 20-year-old Sherell Evans, Aleesha's aunt.

"I'm here for the same reason as everyone else - to get justice for my niece," said a tearful Miss Evans.

A General Medical Council fitness to practice panel was told in March of a catalogue of misdiagnoses and poor performance by Dr Abdul Salam, including a case involving the death of another patient, a 66-year-old Cardiff man.

On that August evening at the Royal Gwent Dr Abdul Salam, who no longer works in Wales, diagnosed a viral infection in Aleesha, treatable with Calpol and Nurofen.

Less than 24 hours later, Aleesha died at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales of multiple organ failure, triggered by blood poisoning caused by a meningococcal infection.

Despite damning criticism of her work in panel chairman Professor Denis McDevitt's report, Dr Abdul Salam was suspended for four months, a ruling Shiree Hanbury slammed as "insulting."

DR ABDUL Salam faces a review hearing in the summer and if allowed back into practice, she could be working in a hospital again before the end of the year.

The protest march was organised by Newport mother-of-three Stacey Routley, who was appalled enough by the GMC's ruling to set up a Facebook site calling for a heavier penalty. She did not know Aleesha's mum or her family, but after meeting them, and with their blessing, organised the protest.

"We have to let the GMC know the amount of anger and concern there is about this doctor," said Ms Routley.

"People have turned up today and voiced their anger very powerfully, and we hope now that the GMC will take notice."