A doctor has been suspended for three months after ‘dishonestly’ working a number of locum shifts at a London hospital while on sick leave from his job at Hinchingbrooke Hospital. 

Dr Adnan Waris worked five shifts at Homerton University Hospital during April and May 2021, when he was signed off from work. 

A medical tribunal found that Dr Waris’ fitness to practice was impaired and imposed a three-month suspension.  

A representative for Dr Waris had told the tribunal that he was not benefiting personally from the money, and that he had offered to work unpaid after admitting what he had done. 

A report published by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service said that it had been admitted and proved that Dr Waris had worked locum shifts at another hospital while on sick leave on April 30, 2021, as well as May 1, May 2, May 6 and May 9. 

Dr Waris had been working as a Clinical Fellow at Hinchingbrooke Hospital at the time. 

Chloe Fairley, representing the General Medical Council (GMC), told the tribunal there had been a “number of opportunities where Dr Waris could have been honest” but said he had “chosen not to do so”. 

She said Dr Waris had put “his own financial and personal interests ahead of his responsibilities as a doctor”. 

Ms Fairley also said the seriousness of the misconduct was shown by the fact that an anonymous person had felt it necessary to write and tell the hospital of what had happened. 

The report said: “Ms Fairley submitted that the GMC do acknowledge that Dr Waris has shown some insight and is clearly apologetic, however, the GMC submitted that the doctor’s dishonest actions plainly constitute serious misconduct. 

“She stated that doctors are expected to uphold proper professional standards and the relationship between the profession and the public is based on the expectation that medical practitioners will at all times act with integrity. 

“Ms Fairley submitted that dishonesty, even when no harm was caused, is particularly serious because it can undermine the public confidence in the profession.” 

Leanne Woods, representing Dr Waris, said he had clearly admitted and recognised that he acted dishonestly and that he had stated he had “got it wrong”. 

She said Dr Waris admitted to what had happened within days of completing locum shifts. 

Ms Woods highlighted an email he sent where he was “putting his hands up” about working elsewhere while on sick leave, and said it was “clear” from his email that he was trying to ensure he was not paid double. 

She also highlighted that Dr Waris had offered to work an unpaid shift. 

The full reasoning given by Dr Waris for why he worked the locum shifts while on sick leave was redacted from the report due to it containing private matters. 

However, the report did say that Ms Woods said there was “no malice” in Dr Waris’ motive and that there was “absolutely no personal gain” and had highlighted the large amounts of money he had sent to his family, while spending “minimal” amounts on himself. 

The report included a quote from Dr Waris which said: “I wish to fully acknowledge and admit it was a gross error on my part to think that I could work as locum elsewhere whilst I was on sick leave from my own Trust. 

“I would like to sincerely apologise for my actions and reaffirm that I am ensuring I do everything I can to rectify my mistake, reflecting on and learning a valuable lesson from this incident.” 

The report said the tribunal concluded that Dr Waris’ actions “fell far short of the standards reasonably expected of a doctor and amounted to misconduct which was serious”. 

The tribunal noted that Dr Waris had admitted what he did at the earliest opportunity and that throughout the proceedings he had “accepted that he should have dealt with things differently and offered a genuine apology”. 

The report said the tribunal recognised he had acted due to “difficult personal circumstances”, that he understood the gravity of his misconduct and that he had shown evidence of remediation. 

Positive testimonials from colleagues describing Dr Waris as hardworking and trustworthy were also noted by the tribunal, and that Dr Waris had an “unblemished record”. 

The report said that the tribunal believed a suspension would have a “deterrent effect” and would send a “significantly robust signal to the profession and the public about the consequences of transgressing proper standards of professional behaviour in this way”.