A doctor without a licence saw patients for three months in Nottinghamshire. A staff member who works for Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and wishes to remain anonymous said they were "too angry for words" over the incident. But the organisation itself said there were no concerns over his competency and that paperwork was the issue.
According to a letter sent to patients treated by Dr Piotr Pierzchniak, a copy of which Nottinghamshire Live has seen, he saw patients between February 18, 2022, and May 25, 2022, without a licence. The Trust informed patients that this was "due to an administrative issue" and that Dr Pierzchniak's licence had been revoked by the General Medical Council (GMC) - an online list of doctors registered to practice in the UK.
The Trust told patients it had "no concerns about the care [patients] received" as Dr Pierzchniak had a valid licence until February 18, 2022. It was found contact details were missing and he was suspended as soon as this was discovered. The GMC said the Trust has a "responsibility" to keep on top of this.
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A spokesperson for the GMC said: "It is mandatory for doctors to have a licence to practise in order to treat patients. If we are made aware of unlicensed practice we will take prompt action to protect patients, including carrying out a thorough investigation. Employers have a responsibility to carry out thorough checks when they employ a doctor."
Dr Pierzchniak has been a part of the Trust's long-term employment through a local agency. According to the letter sent to patients, he is working with the GMC to fix the situation, but remains unlicensed at the time of writing.
But a member of staff at the Trust said they have "zero confidence" in their management after this and how it's been dealt with.
The staff member said: "This was attempted to be swept under the carpet until team members objected and only then were patients informed. I say patients informed; a brief letter was sent to the patients he saw.
"I have zero confidence in management who put it down to be 'a small mistake' and refuse to put any new steps in place to prevent this happening again as he was a locum. I am too angry for words I am speaking out as who knows how many other doctors or nurses in the Trust are also unlicensed.
"It is utterly unacceptable and disgraceful that management refused initially to let patients know and will not put extra steps in place to stop this as thousands of staff are employed. How many patients would want to be treated by an unlicensed consultant psychiatrist over three long months?
"Utterly disgraceful behaviour."
Dr Susan Elcock, Executive Medical Director/Executive Director of Forensic Services at Nottinghamshire Healthcare confirmed that a locum consultant psychiatrist was employed through an agency and worked in their Adult Mental Health Services without a licence for a short period of time.
"There are no concerns about the doctor’s clinical competency while working for the Trust," said Dr Elcock.
"As soon as we were made aware of the issue, we ended the doctor’s agency placement with us and have put additional safeguards in place internally to ensure that this does not happen again. This is a serious matter and all relevant authorities have been made aware and the Trust is cooperating fully. All patients affected have been informed and there is a plan of care in place for each of them.”
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