Metro   Joe Roberts 30 Sep 2019 

Dr Anthony Adams was sacked after speaking out about bullying and discrimination (Picture: SWNS for Metro.co.uk)

A top doctor who spoke out against discrimination says he can’t get a job after being ‘blacklisted’ by the NHS.

Anthony Adams has been a consultant in emergency medicine for 20 years and a qualified doctor since 1988.

This makes him one of the most experienced doctors in his field at a time when NHS trusts across the country are struggling to find enough staff to treat patients.

Dr Adams had a clean record, but in 2012, he was sacked after raising concerns about bullying and discrimination at his hospital.

He said he was left with no choice but to start proceedings for an unfair dismissal, and the General Medical Council later found there was no case against him.

But he has since failed to land any permanent job, despite being on the specialist register and sole applicant in many of the roles.

He told Metro.co.uk: ‘Honestly, when I was dismissed, I was asking myself, “What did I do? What have I done?”

‘I really do not know.’

Dr Adams has been a consultant in emergency medicine for 20 years (Picture: SWNS for Metro.co.uk)

Dr Adams said it started when he raised complaints about behaviour that was beginning to affect his health.

He said: ‘I had to take time off sick and went to see the occupational health consultant to explain what had been happening.

‘Since that dismissal I have been totally unsuccessful.’ Dr Adams, from Peterborough, has had stints working as a locum consultant for months at a time, but he wanted to know why he was being repeatedly rejected.

He said: ‘I decided to do a data subject access request [DSAR] because I found that even trying to get locum agency posts, I was being “blacklisted”.

‘By that I mean my CV was being approved and forwarded on by the medical staffing department, and then it was blocked.

‘It was happening in quite a few hospitals.’

He added: ‘In all but one of my interviews I was the sole candidate for, and usually these departments find it extremely difficult to find recruits.

‘Nobody wants to go to work there, either because of geography or something else, and I just wasn’t “appointable” according to them.’

He said one of the ‘telling incidents’ was at a teaching hospital.

Dr Adams has struggled to find a permanent job despite being on the specialist register(Picture: SWNS for Metro.co.uk)

He said: ‘They really wanted to employ me.

There was a two-tier interviewing process.

One was a psychometric where you were taken in for a day and they put you through scenarios.

‘I was told I passed with colours, they absolutely loved me. ‘

And I had worked in that department before as a locum as well.

‘I was the only applicant, but on the day I was told my references again were “absolute rubbish”.’

Despite the setbacks, Dr Adams has kept his skills up to date with courses and training.

He said: ‘I’m also somebody who trains others.

Not only are patients losing out but so are nurses, doctors and paramedics.’

After another rejection, Dr Adams asked the British Medical Association to look into why he didn’t get a post at a hospital.

Dr Adams wants the ‘highly unethical practice’ of blacklisting doctors to stop (Picture: SWNS for Metro.co.uk)

In an email, a BMA adviser told Dr Adams that they had spoken with someone from the hospital trust’s HR department.

The adviser said: ‘She confirmed that you are on their ‘restricted’ list and will not be accepted for any locum shifts.

‘She did point out that usually a reason for this is set out on their system (e.g. lack of suitable qualifications etc.) but none was provided. ‘

She is aware that the decision has come from the consultants for historical reasons, as we already know.’

However, when asked whether Dr Adams had been ‘blacklisted’, a spokesperson for the trust denied any ‘restrictive list’ existed.

The spokesperson said: ‘It would be inappropriate for us to comment on an individual case due to confidentiality.

‘However, I can confirm that we do not have a restrictive list.’

Dr Adams has decided to take his case to an employment tribunal as he says it’s ‘obvious’ he’s being actively prevented from getting a consultant post ‘without justification’.

He said the strain on his family has been ‘absolutely dreadful’.

He said: ‘It has affected us all in ways I could not have imagined ‘It is a constant conversation.

There is no getting away from how badly I have been treated.

He added: ‘I have three children.

The eldest two are actually in the medical profession and one of the reasons why I want to do it is to change things for them.’

Dr Adams’ lawyer, Sheetul Sowdagur, from Bindmans LLP, slammed the ‘highly unethical practice’ of blacklisting doctors.

She said: ‘No one should be restricted or blacklisted and there should to be clear guidance in law in relation to this issue.

‘Additionally, there should at least exist a duty to inform the individual of any action taken, the reason why and the chance to challenge this.

‘In the absence of transparency discrimination, victimisation and unfairness will flourish. We will continue our fight against this highly unethical practice.’

Original article in Metro

By SOPHIE BORLAND HEALTH EDITOR FOR THE DAILY MAIL

PUBLISHED: 18 September 2019 |

• Cheating GP surgeries and dentists are fleecing NHS out of £214million a year
• Report reveals they claim money for non-existent services and appointments
• The scams come as the Health Service is losing £1.3billion to fraud a year 

Cheating GP surgeries and dentists are fleecing the NHS out of £214million a year, a shocking report has revealed.

They are claiming money for non-existent services and appointments – and submitting invoices for patients who have died.

The scams come as the Health Service is losing £1.3billion to fraud a year or £3.5million a day, according to estimates from the NHS watchdog.

This is equivalent to hiring 48,000 junior doctors or 52,000 nurses – or performing 108,000 hip replacements or 650,000 cataract procedures.

Cheating GP surgeries and dentists are fleecing the NHS out of £214million a year, a shocking report has revealed

The NHS Counter Fraud Authority is particularly concerned about rackets at rogue GP practices and dentists.

It suspects they are are routinely claiming money for ‘ghost patients’ who are still on their books despite having died or moved away.

Latest figures suggest there were 3.6million more patients on GP surgery registers in 2018 than there were people living in England.

The scams are continuing despite repeated attempts by NHS officials to crack down on the problem by urging doctors to clean up their lists.

Other GP surgeries are suspected of claiming extra NHS cash for providing treatments which never happened, such as support to stop smoking or contraceptive services.

Meanwhile, some dentists have been forcing patients to come back for multiple procedures to earn extra cash which could have all taken place in one session.

Others are invoicing the NHS for more complex treatments than those actually carried out.

The NHS Counter Fraud Authority insists that these ruses are by no means widespread and the majority of doctors and dentists are honest and conscientious.

The scams come as the Health Service is losing £1.3billion to fraud a year or £3.5million a day, according to estimates from the NHS watchdog

 

But chief executive Sue Frith said: ‘Fraud against the NHS is insidious and a despicable crime. We will never stop pursuing those who see the NHS budget as a pot of money to line their own pockets.’

Figures compiled by the watchdog, published in an NHS England planning document, show that dental fraud is costing the NHS approximately £126million while GP surgery scams run up an £88million bill.

The document states that GP and dental surgeries are provided by ‘independent contractors’ and ‘high trust environments that present considerable scope for manipulation and sharp practice’.

Senior GPs or partners earn around £105,000 a year while dentists receive between £75,000 and £100,000.

John O’Connell, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘This is an absolutely scandalous waste of taxpayers’ cash. These fraudsters should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.’

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, of the Royal College of GPs, said: ‘GPs and their teams will be shocked and hurt to hear that insinuations they are complicit in somehow defrauding our National Health Service are still being propagated.’

She stressed: ‘Records can never be perfect as our patients’ circumstances change all the time. It is certainly not a case of surgeries deliberately and systematically profiting by keeping patients on their lists when they shouldn’t be there.’

Dave Cottam, of the British Dental Association, said: ‘Anything that takes resources away from patients should be condemned.

‘Sadly confusion is practically written into our contracts. There is no clarity over what the NHS offers and no two dentists would give you the same answer on how treatments are claimed.’

The document also reveals £256million a year is lost to patient fraud, £375million to buying and commissioning scams and further huge amounts to payroll and pharmacy cons.

Other GP surgeries are suspected of claiming extra NHS cash for providing treatments which never happened, such as support to stop smoking or contraceptive services.

Meanwhile, some dentists have been forcing patients to come back for multiple procedures to earn extra cash which could have all taken place in one session.

Others are invoicing the NHS for more complex treatments than those actually carried out.

The NHS Counter Fraud Authority insists that these ruses are by no means widespread and the majority of doctors and dentists are honest and conscientious.

The scams come as the Health Service is losing £1.3billion to fraud a year or £3.5million a day, according to estimates from the NHS watchdog

But chief executive Sue Frith said: ‘Fraud against the NHS is insidious and a despicable crime. We will never stop pursuing those who see the NHS budget as a pot of money to line their own pockets.’

Figures compiled by the watchdog, published in an NHS England planning document, show that dental fraud is costing the NHS approximately £126million while GP surgery scams run up an £88million bill.

The document states that GP and dental surgeries are provided by ‘independent contractors’ and ‘high trust environments that present considerable scope for manipulation and sharp practice’.

Senior GPs or partners earn around £105,000 a year while dentists receive between £75,000 and £100,000.

John O’Connell, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘This is an absolutely scandalous waste of taxpayers’ cash. These fraudsters should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.’

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, of the Royal College of GPs, said: ‘GPs and their teams will be shocked and hurt to hear that insinuations they are complicit in somehow defrauding our National Health Service are still being propagated.’

She stressed: ‘Records can never be perfect as our patients’ circumstances change all the time. It is certainly not a case of surgeries deliberately and systematically profiting by keeping patients on their lists when they shouldn’t be there.’

Dave Cottam, of the British Dental Association, said: ‘Anything that takes resources away from patients should be condemned.

‘Sadly confusion is practically written into our contracts. There is no clarity over what the NHS offers and no two dentists would give you the same answer on how treatments are claimed.’

The document also reveals £256million a year is lost to patient fraud, £375million to buying and commissioning scams and further huge amounts to payroll and pharmacy cons.

View original article

LARA KEAY FOR MAILONLINE

5 September 2019

• Paediatric Dr Maria Klusmann says she was on leave while working elsewhere 
• She worked at five private hospitals over a two-year period while still at UCLH 
• Dr Klusmann, of north London, is accused of defrauding taxpayer of up to £70k

A ‘greedy’ consultant is in court accused of fraud for working at five private hospitals while still collecting her six-figure NHS salary.

Paediatric radiologist Dr Maria Klusmann, 47, claims she worked at private clinics across the capital while she was on approved leave from University College London Hospital (UCLH).

But prosecutors claim she acted out of ‘money and greed’ and unlawfully defrauded taxpayers by as much as £70,000 by working privately while she should have been at UCLH and collecting a total salary of £130,000.

Paediatric radiologist Dr Maria Klusmann (pictured) is charged with one count of fraud by abuse of position over a two-year period between April 2014 and April 2016

She is charged with one count of fraud by abuse of position over a two-year period between April 2014 and April 2016.

Prosecuting, Leila Gaskin told Blackfriars Crown Court: ‘This is a case about money and greed.

‘The prosecution say the defendant was paid by the NHS, but instead she chose to work elsewhere at exclusive private clinics.’

Dr Klusmann received a total of around £130,000 from the NHS and her private work, with between £60,000 and £70,000 fraudulently taken from the Health Service, the jury heard.

She diagnosed sick children by using CT scans, MRIs, S-rays, ultrasound scans and taking biopsies during the two-year period the offence is alleged to have taken place.

Dr Klusmann has pleaded not guilty and denies any dishonesty, insisting much of her private work was during periods of leave from UCLH with the remainder of time paid back to the NHS.

The court heard Dr Klusmann also worked at Highgate Private Hospital; The Wellington Hospital and Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth in St John’s Wood; Aspen Healthcare and HCA Healthcare.

‘Senior doctors were able to see the defendant was not working at the times and places she was contracted to on numerous occasions,’ explained Ms Gaskin.

‘She admitted no wrongdoing and did not alter her conduct and an internal investigation revealed extensive gaps when she was working for other private clinics when she should have been working for the NHS.

‘The prosecution case is over two years she did not work for hundreds of hours for the NHS and during that time was working in the private sector, earning additional sums and was doing this dishonestly and deliberately covering it up.

‘She was effectively being paid by both the private clinics and the NHS at the same time.

‘The defendant was being dishonest, working at private clinics on days she should have been working for the NHS. She was deceiving the NHS, she was acting fraudulently.’

The court heard Dr Klusmann, of Highgate, north London, reacted negatively when confronted by UCLH.

‘She became agitated and evasive and did not answer questions she was asked and there was an attempt on her part to manipulate the data.

‘She says if there is a deficit there is a fault in the computer software of the hospital, which was prone to crash,’ Ms Gaskin added.

The trial continues.

BBC News 5 September 2019

Peter Duffy, whose book ‘outlined appalling treatment of patients’

A hospital chief executive has asked to meet a whistleblower who raised concerns about the “appalling treatment of patients”.

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) has also asked NHS England for help setting up an inquiry into the claims.

It comes after four local MPs wrote to the Health Secretary demanding an independent investigation.

The trust has said it “would not stand in the way of any further scrutiny”.

UHMBT chief executive Aaron Cummins has written to Peter Duffy, a former consultant urologist at the trust’s Royal Lancaster Infirmary, requesting a meeting.

Mr Duffy, who recently published a book detailing allegations of poor medical care by some staff at the trust’s urology department, said he had since spoken to other staff and patients who also had concerns.

“I’m in no doubt that there are ongoing issues,” he said.

“I’m quite prepared to meet with them. I think the sooner it happens the better for patient care and quality of care.”

‘Appalling treatment’

In August, the MPs John Woodcock, Cat Smith, Trudy Harrison and Tim Farron sent a joint letter to the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, saying Mr Duffy had “outlined appalling treatment of patients and severe shortcomings in governance,” at the trust.

“Coroners have ruled mistakes were a factor in the death of two patients,” the letter said, asking for a formal investigation into the trust’s urology department.

The trust responded in a letter saying a number of reviews had already been conducted but “we would not stand in the way of any further scrutiny of our services”.

The letter said the trust was “assured that the concerns raised have been investigated”.

Image copyrightLABOUR PARTY

Ms Smith said she welcomed the trust’s response “because there continues to be concerns in the local community about the safety and quality of service.”

The trust said they hope to meet Mr Duffy to ask for more details of some cases.

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We have received the letter regarding University Hospitals Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust and will respond in due course.”