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Version 1 Version 2
Out-of-hours GP service 'failing' Out-of-hours GP service 'failing'
(about 16 hours later)
By Matt Prodger BBC NewsnightBy Matt Prodger BBC Newsnight
Dr Ubani was on his first shift in the UKDr Ubani was on his first shift in the UK
At one end of a quiet street in the Cambridgeshire village of Manea is the local doctor's surgery.At one end of a quiet street in the Cambridgeshire village of Manea is the local doctor's surgery.
At the other, barely 50 metres away, is the house where 70-year-old David Gray lived.At the other, barely 50 metres away, is the house where 70-year-old David Gray lived.
The surgery was closed, as usual, on Saturday, 16 February 2008.The surgery was closed, as usual, on Saturday, 16 February 2008.
That was Mr Gray's misfortune, because the out-of-hours doctor who arrived at his home to treat him for an ongoing kidney complaint killed him with an overdose of the painkiller, diamorphine.That was Mr Gray's misfortune, because the out-of-hours doctor who arrived at his home to treat him for an ongoing kidney complaint killed him with an overdose of the painkiller, diamorphine.
By coincidence, David Gray's son is also a GP, but he says no doctor he has ever worked with would have made such an error.By coincidence, David Gray's son is also a GP, but he says no doctor he has ever worked with would have made such an error.
"It's such a fundamental error that I can't believe that a qualified doctor would commit it."It's such a fundamental error that I can't believe that a qualified doctor would commit it.
"In fact even a student nurse would know that a 100mg dose of diamorphone would kill a patient.""In fact even a student nurse would know that a 100mg dose of diamorphone would kill a patient."
Dr Daniel Ubani was German and on his first and last full shift as an out-of-hours doctor. He later admitted that in 21 years of experience, he had never used diamorphine.Dr Daniel Ubani was German and on his first and last full shift as an out-of-hours doctor. He later admitted that in 21 years of experience, he had never used diamorphine.
I don't think anybody comes out looking good whether it is the PCT, the locum agency, the provider and the doctor himself Steve Field, Royal College of General Practitioners presidentI don't think anybody comes out looking good whether it is the PCT, the locum agency, the provider and the doctor himself Steve Field, Royal College of General Practitioners president
But the mistake he made that day was just the tip of an iceberg of failures in a system administered by primary care trusts that is supposed to provide safe medical cover when the local GP is off duty.But the mistake he made that day was just the tip of an iceberg of failures in a system administered by primary care trusts that is supposed to provide safe medical cover when the local GP is off duty.
It prompted a review headed by Steve Field, president of the Royal College of General Practitioners.It prompted a review headed by Steve Field, president of the Royal College of General Practitioners.
"In this case, it appears it was a multiple systems failure," he said."In this case, it appears it was a multiple systems failure," he said.
"I don't think anybody comes out looking good whether it is the PCT, the locum agency, the provider and the doctor himself."I don't think anybody comes out looking good whether it is the PCT, the locum agency, the provider and the doctor himself.
"The whole thing was appalling and we need to learn lessons from that, and I believe we are doing now.""The whole thing was appalling and we need to learn lessons from that, and I believe we are doing now."
David Gray was given a huge overdose of the painkiller diamorphine
Our investigation began not in England, but in Germany.Our investigation began not in England, but in Germany.
Dr Ubani runs a clinic called the Queen Idia in the town of Witten.Dr Ubani runs a clinic called the Queen Idia in the town of Witten.
The sign outside his clinic says he is a practitioner of anti-ageing medicine and cosmetic surgery.The sign outside his clinic says he is a practitioner of anti-ageing medicine and cosmetic surgery.
We have seen court documents from 2006 which show he was guilty of malpractice, evidence of complaints about him dating back to the mid-1970s and questionable references testifying to his experience.We have seen court documents from 2006 which show he was guilty of malpractice, evidence of complaints about him dating back to the mid-1970s and questionable references testifying to his experience.
All of this was unknown to the English medical authorities in 2008.All of this was unknown to the English medical authorities in 2008.
LanguagesLanguages
Under EU law, a GP certificate from any member country has to be accepted as proof of their fitness to practise.Under EU law, a GP certificate from any member country has to be accepted as proof of their fitness to practise.
And Dr Ubani had, and still has, his German one.And Dr Ubani had, and still has, his German one.
Niall Dickson, head of the General Medical Council, wants all EU doctors, like those from the rest of the world, to be tested before they practise in the UK.Niall Dickson, head of the General Medical Council, wants all EU doctors, like those from the rest of the world, to be tested before they practise in the UK.
"As far as outside the EU is concerned our view is that we have to test whether these doctors are competent or not and whether they're able to speak English."As far as outside the EU is concerned our view is that we have to test whether these doctors are competent or not and whether they're able to speak English.
"Within the EU there is an assumption that there is an equivalence across the European Union and we are not able to challenge for example whether a particular country's regulator is working effectively or not."Within the EU there is an assumption that there is an equivalence across the European Union and we are not able to challenge for example whether a particular country's regulator is working effectively or not.
"And secondly we're not able to test whether they can speak English or not.""And secondly we're not able to test whether they can speak English or not."
An investigation is underway into the out-of-hours provider, Take Care Now.An investigation is underway into the out-of-hours provider, Take Care Now.