Checks into Scots patients seen by fake psychiatrist
Health boards across Scotland are reviewing the clinical records of patients who received treatment from a bogus psychiatrist who fooled NHS bosses for 22 years despite having no qualifications.
New Zealander Zholia Alemi posed as a consultant psychiatrist before being jailed last October after she defrauded a patient, faking a will in an attempt to inherit a £1.3 million estate.
Scotland’s chief medical officer, Dr Catherine Calderwood, warned this year that Alemi may have treated hundreds of Scots.
Health boards across Scotland are reviewing the clinical records of patients who received treatment from a bogus psychiatrist who fooled NHS bosses across the UK for 22 years despite having no qualifications.
New Zealander Zholia Alemi, posed as a consultant psychiatrist for more than two decades, before being jailed last October after she defrauded a patient in Cumbria, faking a will in an attempt to inherit a £1.3m estate.
Scotland’s chief medical officer, Dr Catherine Calderwood, warned earlier this year that Alemi may have treated hundreds of Scottish patients, even referring some for needless electro-convulsive therapy as well as prescribing medication that may not have been required. She also said other patients may have been detained under the Mental Health Act or “groomed” to gain access to their finances.
Yesterday the Scottish Government said the clinical records of each Scottish health board are being reviewed in detail by consultant psychiatrists to identify decisions made by Alemi and to offer appropriate advice and support to affected patients. Letters with further information will be sent to any affected patients over the coming months.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “I know that this will be extremely upsetting for people and their families.
“The General Medical Council now has processes in place to ensure that this won’t happen again. I also wish to reassure people that the remainder of their care and treatment was delivered by fully qualified doctors. If anyone affected has any further questions, they can get in touch with their local board.”
After her conviction, it emerged that Alemi had dropped out of medical school in her first year in New Zealand but was employed by the NHS after moving to the UK in 1995.
She worked at a number of locations across the UK, including six Scottish health boards. Dr Calderwood has already written to these boards, asking them to identify patients who were significantly affected by Alemi’s activity through “prescription of drugs, electro-convulsive therapy, treatment or diagnosis, or in the use of the Mental Health Act”.
NHS Ayrshire and Arran has already confirmed that Alemi treated 395 adults while working as a locum for 18 months from 2007. NHS Tayside also employed Alemi as a locum psychiatrist for a “short period” in 2009 while NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said she worked in the former NHS Argyll & Clyde area between May 2005 and July 2006. Alemi also worked in the NHS Borders, NHS Highland and NHS Grampian areas.
The General Medical Council (GMC) has said checks were now more “rigorous” and it has reviewed of 3,117 doctors in June, who were allowed to work in theuk under the same rules as Alemi, finding they all had genuine degrees.
“I also wish to reassure people that the remainder of their care and treatment was delivered by fully qualified doctors”
HEALTH SECRETARY JEANE FREEEMAN