Family to sue doctor who spent OAP’s cash
A DISGRACED GP who went on a spending spree with the £190,000 life savings of an elderly patient faces legal action that could force her to repay the cash.
Dr Andrea McFarlane, 54, bombarded 87-year-old Mavis Barsby with letters addressed to ‘my darling angel’ and complaining about money worries.
Mrs Barsby’s family discovered multiple payments for tens of thousands of pounds – which were spent on foreign holidays, home improvements and jewellery – only after the retired headmistress suffered a stroke and went into care.
After years of secret payments were revealed, Aberdeen-born Dr McFarlane faced a ten-day hearing in December in front of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, which banned her for a year.
Now it can be revealed the twicedivorced family doctor, who practised at Crown House Surgery in Retford, Nottinghamshire, was investigated by police over claims she took money from two other people. However, there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.
Last night, Mrs Barsby’s furious family confirmed they will sue Dr McFarlane to recoup the missing money, and branded her temporary ban ‘an insult’ when she should have been struck off.
Mrs Barsby’s nephew John Hemstalk, 67, said: ‘She and [her late husband] Cliff were very frugal, they hardly spent any money. Then along comes this GP with her sob stories about being in debt and calling my aunt her “angel”. As far as I’m concerned, it’s grooming.’
A man who answered the door at Dr McFarlane’s home near Retford said she had nothing to say.