Hospital doctor faked timesheets to claim more pay

Dr Uzair Irshad admitted faking the timesheets

A dishonest doctor who faked timesheets so he would get paid for hours he did not work has been struck off.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service heard how Dr Uzair Irshad had submitted altered timesheets to an agency between August 2018 and December 2020 while working at hospitals in Doncaster and Barnsley.

All the allegations were admitted by Dr Irshad at a hearing earlier this month.

The tribunal found his name should be erased from the medical register because of the seriousness of the misconduct.

Dr Irshad admitted altering the hours he worked in order to get paid more money.

The locum was contracted by an agency to work eight-hour shifts, including a 30-minute unpaid lunch break.

It was alleged Dr Irshad filled out timesheets that were signed off, before he altered the timings when they were submitted for payment.

The tribunal further heard how Dr Irshad had forged the signature of two of his colleagues on timesheets without their knowledge, to show he was working when he was in fact on annual leave.

Dr Irshad was working shifts at Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust between August 2018 and September 2019, before moving to Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust between September 2019 and December 2020.

An NHS team investigated the suspected fraud before a referral was made to the General Medical Council.

In total, there were 51 allegations that were admitted by Dr Irshad.

'Grave offending'

In evidence, altered timesheets were submitted showing how Dr Irshad falsely claimed he had started work an hour early at 08:00 and had left 20 minutes late at 17:20.

Other days showed he had finished work at 18:20 and had taken a 20-minute break.

On behalf of Dr Irshad, Michael Hayton KC acknowledged the medic's behaviour was "extremely grave" but submitted he could be suspended rather than struck off the register.

An immediate order was imposed ahead of him being formally struck off the medical register.

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