Health assistant posed as GP at surgery run by Mugabe’s pal

A BRITISH GP who forced a family of white farmers off their land in Zimbabwe has had his Nottingham surgery shut down – after inspectors found a healthcare assistant posing as a doctor.

The assistant, who has not been named, was permitted to carry out hundreds of tests including internal examinations on unwitting patients.

The Care Quality Commission closed Willows Medical Centre, which had almost 4,000 patients, in June after concerns were raised that people were at risk.

But a damning report yesterday has now revealed how the healthcare assistant, who was employed in March this year, was known within the practice as a ‘doctor’, appeared in the appointments system as one, and used the title in correspondence.

The GP in charge of the centre, Dr Sylvester Nyatsuro, who made headlines earlier this year for his connections to dictator Robert Mugabe, has now resigned his NHS contract.

Healthcare assistants (HCA) normally work under the guidance of a nurse, carrying out procedures including sterilising equipment and taking blood. They do not have to have any medical or healthcare qualifications.

However, the HCA took part in nearly 900 clinical procedures, including diagnoses, assessments of wounds and infections, and diabetes reviews.

Seventy patients have now been recalled as a precautionary measure following the CQC’s findings.

The HCA was employed just a month after it emerged that a white couple had been kicked off their farm in Zimbabwe to make way for Dr Nyatsuro and his wife.

Phillip and Anita Rankin were forced out by 20 police officers brandishing AK47s in February. Mr Rankin, 58, was handcuffed and taken to a police station more than 80 miles away, his family said.

They were evicted from the farm they purchased more than 35 years ago so that Dr Nyatsuro could take their place.

The 45-year-old GP, who was born in Zimbabwe, and his wife Veronica were allocated the farm under Resigned: Dr Nyatsuro and his wife Mugabe’s controversial land seizure laws.

Soon after, a photo emerged confirming the links between the wealthy British doctor and Mugabe.

The Nottingham-based GP and his wife were pictured smiling happily next to the despot’s wife Grace. Following the emergency closure of the surgery, Dr Nyatsuro’s patients have now been advised to register with three other local practices.

Janet Williamson, deputy chief inspector of general practice and dentistry in CQC’s central region, said: ‘The provider did not have arrangements in place to ensure safe, high quality care was provided to patients and had knowingly

‘There was a culture of fear’

employed a healthcare assistant to undertake medical examinations which were outside the scope of the role and for which the individual was not registered or regulated.’

Addressing a ‘ considerable’ number of other failings, she added: ‘The practice had no clear leadership structure, insufficient leadership capacity and limited formal governance arrangements. There was a culture of fear and blame within the practice and we were not assured that all significant events were reported and used as opportunities to improve safety within the practice.’

Dr James Hopkinson, clinical lead for the Nottingham North and East Clinical Commissioning Group, said he was ‘shocked’ by the report.

He added: ‘What has happened is an unacceptable breach of trust and the standards of care we expect for our patients.’

The CQC’s report branded the surgery – which had one full-time doctor, a GP locum and no practice nurse for its 3,600 patients – ‘inadequate’ overall.

It said the healthcare assistant had since been told they were carrying out practices beyond their qualifications.

Dr Nyatsuro, who lives in a luxury £750,000 detached home on the outskirts of Nottingham, was unavailable for comment.