GP denies professional misconduct

A GP accused of misconduct over the running of a Birmingham nursing home said he borrowed money on credit cards to keep the business going.

Dr Jamalapuram Hari Gopal and wife Dr Pratury Samrajya Lakshmi are accused of serious professional misconduct over the running of the Maypole home.

The doctors, who worked at the nearby Philip Clarke Medical Centre, appeared before the GMC and denied the charge.

They also deny accusations of "inappropriate" behaviour.

The GMC heard the home ran into financial problems after the number of residents fell.

Dr Gopal said standards were maintained despite money and staff shortages.

It was closed in March 2003 after an unannounced inspection, which prompted the then National Care Standards Commission to raise "serious concerns" about the care offered, the GMC has heard.

'Demanding work'

Dr Gopal told the GMC's Fitness to Practise Panel in London the home had experienced "a few problems" but had otherwise received positive feedback from the relatives of residents.

He told the hearing: "They used to compliment the way we were helping their relatives and when they unfortunately passed away they used to give us thank you cards.

"It is extremely demanding work and sometimes we had shortages and we had a few problems but we were trying to overcome so many things."

He conceded staffing levels were sometimes an issue at the home and said that workers would sometimes only give a few hours' notice that they would be unable to come in.

Police surgeon

He said one member of staff had been dismissed after allegations of physical abuse against a resident, while another nurse was sacked for a behavioural problem.

The doctor also described how a carer at the former home for elderly, mentally infirm patients in Alcester Road South "smelt of alcohol" and often failed to turn up to work on time.

He said: "I used to work full time as a police surgeon and put that money into the nursing home. I also borrowed a lot of money on my credit cards, but by 2002 it was getting better."

In 2002 and 2003, 28 residents died and the home failed to notify care standard officials of 15 of those deaths.

Birmingham coroner Aidan Cotter had been looking into 13 deaths at the home during 2002 but said last week that he would not be holding inquests.

Mr Cotter said he had found no evidence which would justify holding an inquest, but added the home was not run as well as it could have been.