Psychiatrist suspended over false hours claims

A PSYCHIATRIST cheated the NHS by repeatedly working fewer hours than he claimed.

- CONOR GOGARTY

Dr Anthony Odume must serve a six-week suspension over serious misconduct at Montgomery County Infirmary in Newtown, Powys.

The doctor, whose deception of his employer lasted almost three months, was at the time working as a locum consultant psychiatrist at the hospital. The chairwoman of his medical tribunal, Sarah Hamilton, noted the doctor had been allowed “some flexibility” in his working pattern.

She accepted there had been an agreement with his line manager that Dr Odume did not have to work beyond 1pm on a Friday if he had already completed his contracted hours for the week, and that there were times when he could work remotely. But she found he “went beyond” the agreed flexibility and ended up “dishonestly claiming for hours which he did not work and failing to either attend or work remotely on numerous occasions’

Dr Odume admitted he left work earlier than agreed on some Fridays, which he explained by pointing to “travel issues” and “a desire to reach home” by a certain time. The panel heard there were two Fridays when he failed to turn up for work at all.