Showjumping event doctor sent home injured riders

A SHOWJUMPING doctor has been struck off after sending riders home with serious injuries while working at competitions without a licence.

Dr Alexandros Charitou worked as the medical officer at 10 events run by British Eventing in 2016, despite having lost his licence to practise.

At one event, Dr Charitou told a woman who had fallen from her horse and was suffering with severe back pain to go home and consult her GP.

The woman was later driven by her husband to the Royal Surrey County Hospital, where a scan revealed a “potentially life-changing” vertebral fracture, a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service hearing was told. The woman, referred to as Patient B, was transferred to St George’s Hospital in London for spinal surgery.

It was heard that Dr Charitou had failed to immobilise her, to provide adequate pain relief, or arrange her rapid transfer to hospital.

When approached by The Sunday Telegraph Dr Charitou declined to comment or offer an apology to his for- mer patients. The tribunal also heard that Dr Charitou had deliberately misled British Eventing, falsely telling the governing body in an email that his licence to practise had been merely withheld by the General Medical Council (GMC).

The GMC had in fact informed Dr Charitou in March 2015 of their decision to withdraw his licence to practise, clearly stating: “You must not work in any role which requires you to hold a licence to practise.”

In the case of another patient, who experienced a knee injury and concussion, more serious charges alleging substandard care by Dr Charitou were found not proved, and his assessment of the injury was found to be fundamentally accurate.

Neil Dalton, the tribunal chairman, ruled that: “He has demonstrated a total lack of insight and potential for remediation and has shown no remorse.”

The erasure of his name from the Medical Register will take effect after 28 days unless Charitou appeals.

A British Eventing spokesman said until it had the full judgment it would not be able to comment further.