Shropshire Star

'It's ridiculous': Royal Shrewsbury Hospital under fire for employing sex offender doctor

Health bosses are to seek an explanation from a hospital in Shropshire on their recruitment policies – after being criticised for taking on a convicted sex offender as a locum doctor.

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Dr Gareth Menagh, who had worked at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital since February,

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A Medical Practitioners Tribunal ruled the 33-year-old should be removed from the medical register as a result of his conviction relating to offences committed at a Belfast hospital in 2011.

In the court case that followed in 2014, he admitted three charges of recording the women doing a private act.

Dr Menagh was fined a total of £6,000 for the offences. Since 2011 he has been only allowed to work subject to General Medical Council (GMC) conditions.

Speaking at a meeting of Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) this week, David Sandbach, former chief executive of the Princess Royal Hospital in the town, hit out at the decision to employ Dr Menagh.

He said it had been prompted by "desperate" health bosses looking to solve a staffing crisis at the two hospitals.

"The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust was reckless to employ a known sex criminal as a locum doctor because of a medical staffing crisis," he said.

"Anybody who will employ a known sex offender as a doctor must want their heads testing. It really is ridiculous."

Dr Jo Leahy, chair of the CCG, said if the GMC had previously considered Dr Menagh "remediable" then it was "quite hard for an individual organisation to say they are not".

But board member Dr Andy Inglis, a GP in Sutton Hill, said: "It's a very valid concern raised by David as a member of the public.

"I would suggest we seek, in writing, an explanation from HR at the hospital as to the processes within SaTH.

"We should also seek assurances for the future."

CCG chief officer David Evans said at the meeting, held at Hadley Park Hotel on Tuesday, that he would be "more than happy" to do that.

The tribunal upheld the submission that Dr Menagh's ability to practice was impaired due to the conviction, that voyeurism was a serious offence and that his actions showed a lack of respect for both his colleagues and for the law.

The panel heard that Dr Menagh showed a "serious lack of judgement" and that the public and fellow doctors would find his conduct "abhorrent".

It said Dr Menagh had disclosed the offences to bosses at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust and a risk assessment was carried out.

The trust's medical director Dr Edwin Borman said: "I've met with Dr Menagh and discussed with him the implications of the GMC hearing, which means that he cannot work as a doctor. The trust already has taken action to put this ruling into effect."

Dr Menagh has 28 days to appeal.

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