A GP who ‘systematically defrauded’ the NHS by cla

A GP who ‘systematically defrauded’ the NHS by claiming four years’ wages for an imaginary member of staff kept his job today.

(Thurs)

Dr Dinesh Patel stole pnds 84,000 to cover a pnds sltg 90,000 overspend on an extension for his surgery in West Hertfordshire.

He exaggerated his employees wages and invented an extra nurse and counsellor between 1996 and 2000.

But today (Thurs) Patel was allowed to keep his job on the condition he keeps his fingers out of the financial management of his practice.

Patel’s ‘deliberate breach of trust’ was discovered after a tip-off and he admitted four charges of false accounting at Watford Magistrates in November last year.

The judge at St Albans Crown Court took pity on him because of the higher motives of caring for patients in a deprived area.

He was given a 12 month suspended sentence and ordered to pay pnds stlg 90,000 in compensation with a pnds stlg 30,000 fine.

Today Patel pleaded to be allowed to remain a doctor despite his conviction.

Patel originally claimed the scam had been part of a plan involving all three partners at his practice in Oxhey Drive, South Oxhey, Hertfordshire.

But he later admitted under police questioning that he had been the only one responsible.

‘This was a systematic fraud on the NHS over a four year period between August 1990 and June 2000 and netted a benefit to the doctor’s practice of 84,000 pounds,’ said Ian Stern, for the GMC.

‘His method of defrauding West Hertfordshire Health Authority was to falsify returns as to the cost of staff.

‘He exaggerated amounts he had been paying staff as well as creating a fictional member of staff.

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Patel told investigators he had claimed for two nurses instead of one and a counsellor who had not been appointed over the four years.

He said the practice needed the money to pay for the pnds stlg 90,000 overspend because an application for a second pnds stlg 100,000 grant had been refused.

Sentencing Patel the judge had told him: ‘I am satisfied your motive was not personal gain.

But however good your motives were your actions were undoubtedly dishonest and have caused the loss of a significant sum to the health service.

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Patel, of (3) Holbein Gate, Eastgalde, Northwood, Middlesex, admits the conviction and has already paid his compensation.

Today he was told he can practice on condition he is not responsible for the management or finances of his practice during the next three years.

GMC committee chairman Douglas Gentleman told him: ‘You shall not be involved in or responsible for the management of the finances of your practice partnership, although you may sign legal and other documents necessary for you to function as a partner.

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Dr Patel must notify his present and prospective partners, contracting Health Authority and any prospective employer of the conditions.

‘In a case involving fraud over such a long period and on such a large scale, erasure would be the usual outcome of a hearing such as this,’ admitted Mr Gentleman.

‘You were the senior partner, carrying out a heavy administrative and financial responsibility as well as undertaking your clinical work.

‘Your dishonesty was only discovered when an audit was carried out at the practice.

At that point you admitted falsifying accounts over a period of two years.

‘Subsequently during a second audit you admitted to a further two years of wrong-doing.

‘This was a deliberate breach of trust and a breach of the obligations on all doctors to behave with financial probity.

‘However, the committee have taken careful note of the Judge’s sentencing remarks in your case.

‘He accepted you acted dishonestly in order to fund a shortfall on the building costs to your practice premises.

‘The judge was satisfied that your motive was not personal gain, but the benefit that the work would confer on the patients in the deprived area that
you had served over many years.

‘You have now paid the compensation and fine which were imposed.

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ends