NHS bosses put ‘unqualified’ doctor in charge of A&E

AN NHS trust “catapulted” an inexperienced doctor into overseeing a hospital’s emergency department where he fell asleep during his shift and gave patients incorrect treatment, a tribunal heard.

Tarek Seda, 41, was not sufficiently qualified when he was assigned as the only senior doctor to work two consecutive night shifts at Kings Mill Hospital in Sutton-in-ashfield, Notts. The incidents occurred in June 2017.

One woman he examined for heart issues was mistakenly given beta blockers, while another patient who had a fever after being treated for cancer was given a cursory examination by Seda from the bottom of her bed. A third patient, who was seriously ill, had a breathing tube inserted in his throat without anaesthetic.

A Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service heard Seda was given little training or assessment by officials at the Sherwood Forest NHS trust and had fallen asleep during his shifts due to severe exhaustion.

A medical expert’s report said: “This doctor has been catapulted into a senior role he was never fit for. His employer never assessed how competent he was and never gave him a proper induction.”

Seda was found guilty of serious professional misconduct and given a 12-month suspension. He has since been working at a hospital in Oman.

Seda, who qualified in Egypt, was working for a private medical organisation when he applied for a job at the hospital. It is thought NHS officials failed to properly check his credentials.