A former NHS Grampian doctor has been suspended after assaulting and threatening a disabled patient.
Dr Temitope Oluwagbemisola Ademola has been disciplined by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) following her actions at Cornhill Hospital in Aberdeen in December 2014 and January 2015.
Dr Ademola was convicted in November, 2015 at Aberdeen Sheriff Court of assaulting a patient, known only as patient A, at the Bracken ward of the hospital – by kicking her on the body and covering her mouth to stop her breathing.
The consultant psychiatrist also threatened to punch and kick the woman and was sentenced to 200 hours unpaid work.
A tribunal heard evidence from witnesses in the ward, including another psychiatrist, a staff nurse and a clinical nurse manager.
But her defence agent argued that Dr Ademola had said she had only threatened to punch and kick the patient if the patient had punched or kicked her and had accepted full responsibility for her actions.
However, the tribunal still ruled it was “unacceptable” conduct for a medic and she has been suspended for six months with a review hearing scheduled after that period.
In his written determination, tribunal chairman Dr Nigel Westwood said “a period of suspension would restore public confidence” in her ability as a doctor.
He wrote: “The tribunal heard that patient A is a vulnerable patient who has a learning disability and her impaired cognitive functioning limits her ability to control her actions.
“The tribunal was struck by the lack of any self-pity on your part, despite the very considerable damage that has been done to your career and to you personally as a consequence of those two isolated incidents.
“The tribunal determined that a period of suspension would restore public confidence in you as a doctor and in the medical profession at large as it would highlight the unacceptability of your actions.”
In June, the specialist Bracken ward, used for learning disability services, was closed by the NHS due to a lack of nurses.
Dr Ademola could not be contacted for comment.
Last night, an NHS Grampian spokeswoman said she no longer worked with the board and added that the closure of the Bracken ward was “nothing to do” with her suspension.
