Nurse filled in for GP who couldn’t cope

A nurse held morning surgeries while the doctor in charge was away on holiday.

Glynis Cottam (57) was handed a series of pre-signed blank prescriptions by Dr John Gray to fill out for his patients at the Crofton Street Surgery, Oldham, a hearing was told yesterday.

Dr Gray could not cope with the practice’s 5,000 patients after his partner retired. It was then he asked Cottam for help, the Nursing and Midwifery Council heard.

Earlier this year, Dr Gray was struck off by the General Medical Council for allowing Cottam to see patients and issue them with prescriptions.

But Cottam denies holding open morning surgeries and providing services beyond her capabilities between April, 2003, and May, 2006.

Melanie McDonald, for the NMC, told the hearing that holding surgeries was far beyond anything Cottam was qualified to do.

The scandal only came to light when Wilfred Tam, a pharmacist at the near-by Co-op, queried a prescription on May 2, 2006, for one blood pressure tablet.

Mr Tam told the hearing: “A lady came in with a prescription. It was signed by Dr Gray, despite the fact that I knew he was on holiday.

“And the quantity of one of the prescriptions was for one capsule. I was told by the receptionist that it should have been 28.”

Mr Tam informed his bosses at the Co-op and an investigation by the local Primary Care Trust was swiftly launched.

He added: “I went back to see Ms Cottam. She did say they were pre-signed by Dr Gray. I informed her it was illegal to work that way, and she agreed to stop doing it.”

But when investigators from Oldham PCT visited the surgery on May 5, Cottam ordered staff to shred pre-signed medical certificates.

Ms McDonald said: “The practice manager was asked by the registrant to shred a quantity of pre-signed medical certificates. She complied with that request, but she subsequently realised it was wholly inappropriate and informed the investigation.”

Cottam, of Oldham, now denies asking a colleague to shred the certificates.

But she does admit failing properly to complete written records of patient consultation undertaken between January 31 and February 6, 2006, and completing and issuing pre-signed prescriptions and medical certificates to patients on May 2. She also admits her fitness to practice is impaired in respect of those admissions.

Cottam could be struck off as a result of her misconduct.

The hearing continues.