Doctor Suspended for Faking Appointments to Avoid School Run Delays
A General Practitioner (GP) has been suspended for five months for faking appointments in an effort to avoid delays in her school run. Dr. Helen Eisenhauer, who practiced at Stenhouse Medical Centre in Arnold, Nottingham, manipulated her schedule to enable timely pickup of her children.
Details of the Misconduct
The tribunal revealed that Dr. Eisenhauer arranged non-essential face-to-face appointments for two patients whom she had already consulted by phone earlier that same day. This tactic aimed to keep other patients from booking those slots, allowing her to end her shift on time. She was scheduled to finish work at 4:45 p.m. and needed to collect her children by 6 p.m.
Investigation Findings
The deception came to light when a staff member noticed discrepancies in Dr. Eisenhauer’s appointment records. Following this discovery, she attended meetings in August 2024 regarding the incident, which had taken place in July of the same year.
Initially, Dr. Eisenhauer did not acknowledge any dishonesty regarding her actions. However, she eventually referred herself to the General Medical Council (GMC) and admitted to the allegations against her.
Response and Justifications
During the tribunal, Dr. Eisenhauer expressed concern over potential appointments that could be scheduled, emphasizing how this influenced her decision-making. “Appointments get booked very quickly and can vary in complexity,” she stated. She attributed her actions to the pressures of balancing her professional duties with parenting responsibilities and cited sleep deprivation as a contributing factor.
Tribunal Ruling and Consequences
The tribunal classified Dr. Eisenhauer’s actions as serious misconduct that impaired her fitness to practice medicine. They determined that a five-month suspension was warranted to address the severity of her conduct and to send a clear message to both Dr. Eisenhauer and the medical community at large.
This suspension not only serves as a consequence for her actions but also allows Dr. Eisenhauer time to reflect and gain further insight into her professional responsibilities.
