An experienced GP has been suspended for a year and had his contract at his Rochester surgery terminated after a hearing found that his professional performance was “unacceptable”.

Dr Nihal Elapatha was accused of a number of failings, including the assessment of patients’ condition, providing or arranging treatment, record-keeping and use of resources.

Before the end of the suspension period, Dr Elapatha’s case will be reviewed at a fitness to practice panel.

Dr Elapatha was suspended from working at the Rochester Healthy Living Centre from March last year. Since then, services for about 2,000 of his patients at the surgery in Delce Road have been covered by locums.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, which took over from the General Medical Council, carried out an assessment of standards deemed to be poor. Dr Elapatha did not attend and was not represented.

It was heard in his absence after the panel was satisfied that the doctor was fully aware of the proceedings.

“[My practice is] high demand, high volume where one has to work as though on a conveyor belt” - Dr Elapatha

The investigation has involved tribunal members undertaking a site visit, reviewing medical records and conducting third-party interviews.

Dr Elapatha stated that he did a minimum of 150 consultations a week and, during his 13 years at Rochester, none of his patients were harmed in any way or died due to medical negligence or malpractice.

He added that all his patient satisfaction surveys were above the Medway and national average. He had also received letters and a petition backing him.

Related story: Hundreds of patients urged to find new doc at troubled surgery

He said he could not touch-type, he could not type on a medical record everything that took place in an appointment and that some patients come with two or more problems, unrelated to the ailment they had come for.

He described his practice as “high demand, high volume where one has to work as though on a conveyor belt”.

He has since taken remedial action by investing in new software, technical training and learning how to touch type.

The panel, which sat from January 19 to 30, concluded that while a permanent ban would not be appropriate, Dr Elapatha needed a suspension period long enough to “reflect on its findings”.

Chairman Linda Buchanan stated: “The panel found that Dr Elapatha had limited insight into his failings. It notes that initially, Dr Elapatha did appear to acknowledge that his record-keeping was inadequate and this was noted in the panel’s determination on impairment.

“However, he appears to minimise his failings and therefore there is little reassurance that he will not act similarly in the future.

“The panel has determined that, given the serious nature of the findings and potential risk to patient safety, it is necessary for the protection of members of the public – and is in the public interest – for Dr Elapatha’s registration to be suspended immediately.”

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