Mum-of-two Dr Helen Eisenhauer, 43, feared last minute consultations booked in by colleagues would make her late for her school pick-up duties, so faked face-to-face appointments instead
A GP who faked face-to-face appointments to make it on time for the school run has been banned from treating patients.
Mum-of-two Dr Helen Eisenhauer, 43, feared last minute consultations booked in by colleagues would make her late for pick up. To ensure she was on time, the part-time medic made up two face-to-face appointments for patients who she had already had telephone consultations with earlier that day.
But she was caught out after a partner at Stenhouse Medical Centre in Arnold, Notts, spotted “anomalies” in her booking arrangements and hauled her in for a meeting. The colleague found Eisenhauer had not only faked appointments but also blocked her diary in the late afternoon to avoid seeing other patients.
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The GP initially denied dishonesty but later referred herself to the General Medical Council. She was suspended from practicing for five months after admitting misconduct charges.
In evidence at the tribunal, she admitted lying on the booking schedule, saying she had been under ‘”strain from sleep deprivation resulting from her parenting responsibilities”.
She added: “The incident occurred at a time of particular stress for me when I was having to balance the demands of my young family with busy professional commitments. I fully accept, however, that this does not excuse my dishonesty.
“I do feel that in the intervening period I have developed significantly such that I am better able now to balance my obligations at home and at work. I am fully aware of the importance of honesty and probity in my personal and professional life, and the impact that dishonest actions can have on the profession and the public trust in the profession.”
The GMC’s Katie Jones said: ‘‘Dr Eisenhauer engaged in acts of dishonesty which demonstrated a reckless disregard for patient safety. She undermined a system designed to protect the public and undermined collaborative working as she repeatedly lied to colleagues.’‘
Chairman of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service Neil Dalton said: ‘‘Across this course of conduct, Dr Eisenhauer displayed a reckless disregard both for patient safety and for professional standards. By such actions she undermined collaborative working, betraying the trust her colleagues needed to be able to place in her probity, as they worked side-by-side with her on a daily basis.
‘‘Her inability to be honest with professional colleagues continued into the investigation meeting too, a factor which increased the seriousness. By making a false record, she was also undermining a system designed to protect the public and she was putting her own interests before those of her patients.’‘
