Doctor who kept abortion records at home struck off

Dr Maryam Mohamed Al Qureshi kept medical records relating to 300 patients

A doctor who left abortion papers, psychiatric reports and other confidential patient records at her rented flat when she moved out has been struck off the medical register.

Dr Maryam Mohamed Al Qureshi, previously known as Dr Victoria Pickles, left records of 300 patients in an unlocked cupboard at her home in Southampton, a medical tribunal heard.

The 2,000 pages spanned 17 years, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) was told.

The General Medical Council (GMC), which brought the case, said leaving abortion papers was "particularly serious" given their sensitive nature.

An estate agent found the documents in a cupboard under the stairs when the doctor left the flat in October 2022, the MPTS heard.

The records, dating from 1996 to 2013, came from the Marie Stopes abortion service (now MSI Choices) and seven other healthcare providers in Hampshire and Leeds, the tribunal was told.

Dr Mohamed Al Qureshi showed a "flagrant disregard" for security and did not explain her actions, the GMC said.

She could have harmed patients by keeping the records from other clinicians, it added.

In 2022, the doctor was suspended for failing to call an ambulance for a patient who dialled the NHS 111 line with an emergency, the tribunal heard.

Striking her off, the MPTS ruled the doctor had "shown no effective engagement and provided no evidence that she is fit to return to practice".