A DOCTOR, who stood in for a GP accused of malpractice, yesterday told a hearing Dr Dev Dutt had managed his surgery “competently”.
Dr Mirza Ahmed, who worked as a locum at Fartown Health Centre between 1990 and 2005, said Dr Dutt's practice had been well managed and was in line with other general practices.
Dr Dutt (pictured), 66, denies malpractice on 11 patients between 1985 and 2005 at a General Medical Council (GMC) fitness to practice panel in Manchester.
Dr Ahmed, a GP at Bradford Road Medical Centre, Fartown, said he had not any found medical errors at Dr Dutt's practice.
He said he was happy to let Dr Dutt perform locum work at his practice and had not encountered difficulties in finding patient notes.
Dr Ahmed said he had never had particular trouble reading Dr Dutt's handwriting. He added the staff at Fartown Health Centre had been good at their jobs.
Dr Ahmed admitted Dr Dutt's consulting room had housed boxes of personal notes especially in his last few years at the surgery. But Dr Ahmed said Dr Dutt's office was much like any other GP's consulting room.
The panel also heard from Dr Keith Davey, an eye specialist who had worked with Dr Dutt at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and Calderdale Royal Hospital.
Dr Davey said Dr Dutt's prescription of three drugs for a patient with an eye condition had been appropriate. He added Dr Dutt's injections of a steroid, frequently taken orally, were a reasonable alternative method and did not place the patient at unnecessary risk.
Dr Dutt denies allegations of failing to keep adequate notes, betraying patient confidentiality and other forms of misconduct.
The doctor was barred from his one-man surgery in February 2005 by Huddersfield Central Primary Care Trust. The GMC suspended his right to practice in October 2005. The case continues.
