NHS occupational therapist claiming sick leave 'emigrated to Thailand'

An occupational therapist who went on sick leave from his NHS job has been struck off after his managers discovered he had actually emigrated to Thailand.

By Aislinn Simpson

Last Updated: 2:08PM GMT 23 Feb 2009

Benedict Ciappara was employed as a senior member of staff by Surrey Primary Care Trust to help people suffering from memory loss and mental health issues.

At the beginning of October 2006, he left work complaining of feeling ill then failed to make contact with his managers again.

After almost six weeks with no word, a worried colleague contacted police who discovered that Mr Ciappara had emigrated to Thailand.

A disciplinary hearing by the Health Professions Council conducted in Mr Ciappara's absence heard that his actions led to a lack of cover on an acute mental health ward and put his colleagues at risk.

The chairman of the committee, Elspeth Metcalfe, said: "The panel was satisfied that the registrant's misconduct was such that it currently impaired his fitness to practise.

"By his actions, the registrant breached the trust which his employer had in him, acted in an irresponsible and unreliable way, let down his team and compromised treatment to his patients."

Mr Ciappara sent documents from Thailand in his defence, but according to a HPC spokesman, this provided little mitigation.

He said: "The registrant's actions were deliberate and had serious consequences for patients and fellow colleagues, and the reputation of the profession.

"The panel considered the registrant's bundle of documents, and the mitigating factors he presented, but it was clear that he lacks insight into the seriousness of his actions. There was no evidence to suggest that there would be no prospect of a repetition of misconduct."

The spokesman added that the panel had no choice but to strike Mr Ciappara off its accredited list of health professionals.

Daily Telegraph

Edited February 24, 200917 yr by sbk

It seems a bit harsh to have him struck off. The reason they were short of staff is pretty much down to contingency planning failure.