False timesheets claim over Dudley and Walsall doctor

Dr Elias Anukwe sent false timesheets claiming he was working for both trusts simultaneously, the hearing was told.

The locum was contracted to work full-time for the Worcestershire Health and Care NHS trust between December 2010 and December 2011.

But between February and October 2011 the medic took a second job at Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership Trust.

But Dr Anukwe claimed to have worked around 40 hours per week for the Worcestershire trust, while getting paid for shifts at the Dudley Walsall trust during the same hours, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service heard. He was found out after a chance conversation between staff. Dr Anukwe is facing allegations of misconduct at a fitness to practise hearing in Manchester.

Jocelyn Ledward, for the General Medical Council, told a hearing: "The allegation is Dr Anukwe claimed to be working simultaneously for two different trusts between February and October 2011. Neither was aware of the contractual obligation with the other. In effect during the relevant period Dr Anukwe claimed to have worked simultaneously at the two different trusts at the times and dates set out. On any given day, one or other claim must have been false, although it seems likely that on most, if not all occasions, it was the Worcestershire timesheet which is false."

Between February 1 and October 12, 2011, the GMC say Dr Anukwe clocked up 219 duplicated hours. The hearing was told Dr Anukwe was expected to provide full-time cover at the Worcestershire trust as a locum consultant psychiatrist in the child and adolescent mental health service.

Between January 2011 and October 2011 he was contracted to work as a locum consultant psychiatrist in the child and mental health services at the Dudley trust. The hearing continues.