GP suspended for being on drugs while on shift

Nathan Sandles has been suspended from his role as a GP at Church Langley Medical Centre in Harlow, Essex

A doctor who was on drugs while seeing patients has been suspended.

Nathan Sandles, who worked as a GP at Church Langley Medical Centre in Harlow, Essex, was found acting "drowsy, sleepy and disorientated" while on shift.

He prescribed medication for himself by falsely using a patient’s name, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal heard.

While Dr Sandles had expressed "remorse and shame" in his witness statement to the panel, he was suspended for 12 months.

Between 12 June 2020 and 24 July 2020, while at Church Langley Medical Centre, Dr Sandles "worked whilst under the influence of drugs", the report said.

The General Medical Council were first notified of concerns in July 2020 through a confidential helpline.

Allegations were raised that Dr Sandles had been drowsy, sleepy and disorientated while responsible for the care of patients at the practice.

In December 2021 at North Essex Magistrates' Court, he was convicted of use of a false prescription for a scheduled drug with intent.

He was sentenced to an 18-month Community Order on 3 February 2022 at Chelmsford Crown Court, and required to do 140 hours of unpaid work.

However, four months later he prescribed drugs to a patient but the took the medication himself, which breached conditions.

The tribunal also heard Dr Sandles had been previously fired from a GP practice in 2011 because he started using some medication he had obtained from a patient. The tribunal heard he was struggling with his workload at the time.

In early 2012, Dr Sandles was allowed to practise at a GP practice again and he became a GP at Church Langley Medical Practice and was offered partnership in May 2016.

Dr Sandles had formally apologised to the tribunal while giving evidence on oath.