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| Health & Social Care
October 6 2015

Extraordinary Lapses In Checks On Locum NHS Doctors Exposed

"A ""fake doctor"" was able to treat more than 3,000 patients thanks to ""extraordinary"" lapses in checks on locum medics working in the NHS, an investigation reveals.

When the man, who had some medical training, but was not allowed to work unsupervised, was struck off by the General Medical Council (GMC), he stole the identity of a real medic, and obtained work at another NHS trust. The head of the Commons Health Select Committee called for action to better safeguard the public and ensure that failing doctors are not able to ply their trade by simply moving from place to place. Patient safety experts said the case demonstrated that checks on locums are not robust enough to protect the public. The banned medic has pleaded guilty to 22 offences of deception, fraud and visa offences."