Foul-mouthed GP lost 800 patients ‘due to string of temper tantrums’
Allegations: Dr Henry Hart is accused of being abusive to patients and staff
A foul-mouthed family doctor branded a real life ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ lost 800 patients in only four years due to a string of temper tantrums, a medical tribunal heard today.
Dr Henry Hart, 45, was so rude and abrupt to patients at his surgery he turned his back on them during consultations to concentrate on his computer.
On one occasion he allegedly reduced an eight-year-old girl to tears.
Hart is also accused of subjecting staff to tirades of abuse claiming they ‘undermined him’ during his time at the Bayside family practise in Ulverston in the Lake District.
When asked if he could see a patient he retorted: ‘F****** hell, I’m not seeing a patient, they’re too late, they’ll have to go to hospital, it is claimed.
Some staff claim to have quit because of stress.
The tribunal also heard Hart was so paranoid about two other doctors’ practices operating in the same building he changed the locks for fear the GPs might search his offices.
By the time Hart quit his post as principal GP at the surgery in September 2008, 800 patients had transferred to other practices.
Many had regularly complained about Dr Hart to both the nurses and the receptionists who felt they had to ‘apologise on his behalf’.
Hart faces a string of disciplinary charges accusing him of being unprofessional and aggressive whilst running the 4,000 patient practice.
Miss Sharon Beattie, counsel for the General Medical Council told the hearing in Manchester how Hart was initially a locum at the practice from about May 2004 but took over the following October as principal GP.
‘Dr Hart’s conduct during that period unfortunately was repeatedly and consistently poor,’ Miss Beattie said.
‘Throughout that period he was habitually rude and aggressive towards staff, professional colleagues and patients alike.’
She said that there would be a ‘recurring theme’ in the evidence of aggressive and intimidating behaviour.
Miss Beattie added that Dr Hart ‘perceived many actions as an attempt to undermine him ‘and viewed any offers of help or advice as ‘interference’.
He allegedly warned members of staff not to communicate with with health officials at the local Primary Care Trust and tried to prevent them seeing staff members from different practices socially.
A practice manager known only as JP who worked at the surgery between May and August 2004 described Hart’s behaviour as ‘menacing’ when she suggested he was alienating staff.
He ignored JP for a month, making it difficult for her to run the practice, the tribunal was told.
She eventually left after reading in the surgery newsletter that a new practice manager was being sought.
A receptionist known as LP worked at the practice between August and October 2004, but described Dr Hart as ‘something of a Jekyll and Hyde in relation to his behaviour’.
Miss Beattie said, ‘That behaviour included changing the locks on the doors of the practice, and the reason he gave was that he didn’t trust the other GPs.’
One nurse practitioner described the environment at the practice as ‘stressful and volatile’.
Dr Hart allegedly told her she was ‘not a team player’ when she asked to be reimbursed for pre-booked holidays she was not allowed to take.
When she left, the panel was told that he wrongly and maliciously accused her of taking two prescription pads.
The nurse said she witnessed Dr Hart subjecting staff to a ‘tirade of abuse’ in public areas of the practice, describing his behaviour as ‘out of control’.
The panel was told that Dr Hart altered medical notes taken by other GPs at the practice, and refused to discuss important patient care with his colleagues.
When one patient, a former blacksmith, came in complaining of back pain, Dr Hart allegedly replied ‘that’s your problem, change your job’.
Another patient JT took her daughter, BT to see Hart but he was rude and the youngster burst into tears.
Eventually in September 17 2008, patients turned up at the practice at the Ulverston Community Health Centre to see Hart had unexpectedly left leaving an electronic message in the waiting room.
It read: ‘Dr Hart apologises but feels he is no longer able to work at the practice due to pressure the PCT and other practices at UCHC. Bayside will continue to operate although you may see another GP…..’
Dr Hart, of Kirkby-in-Furness, Cumbria, denies 33 counts of unprofessional behaviour.
The hearing continues.
Mohammed Abbasi 