Doctor suspended for misconduct

Unconscious patients were left with junior staff

A consultant anaesthetist who left unconscious NHS patients with junior staff so he could treat private cases has been suspended.

Dr Balmukund Bansilal Bhala, of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, has been found guilty of serious professional misconduct by the General Medical Council (GMC).

At Kettering General Hospital Dr Bhala, 56, asked doctors with only a few months' experience to take care of patients, claiming he had meetings to attend.

The GMC's professional conduct committee found that on one occasion he left a patient in the care of a senior house officer with only nine months' UK experience.

'Irresponsible' actions

He failed to respond when paged and the GMC found he had gone to treat private patients at Kettering's Woodlands Hospital.

The GMC said: "Doctors must be trustworthy and honest. No doctor should need to be reminded of this fact."

The committee found that on three occasions in 1998 Dr Bhala left junior staff to manage patients unsupervised.

They branded his actions "inappropriate and irresponsible" and said it proved he had an inability to prioritise between his NHS and private patients.

Disciplinary hearing

The committee said: "Given the serious and repeated nature of your conduct, which was inappropriate, irresponsible and not in the best interests of your junior staff and your patients, the committee have determined that you have been guilty of serious professional misconduct."

Dr Bhala resigned from Kettering General Hospital in 2000 before a disciplinary hearing could be held and stopped working at the Woodlands Hospital at the same time.

The GMC suspended him from medical practice for three months, pending an appeal.