A HOSPITAL psychiatrist is to stand trial over allegations he defrauded the NHS by doing private work while he was supposedly off sick.
Dr Nawshad Suleman, who was based at St Michael’s psychiatric hospital in Warwick, is also accused of misusing NHS trust facilities for private consultations.
Suleman, of Beaminster Road, Solihull, pleaded not guilty at Warwick Crown Court to three charges of defrauding the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust.
The first charge alleges the 64 year-old did so in September 2012 by submitting medical certificates saying he was unfit to work, whereas he was undertaking private paid work while also receiving sick pay from the Trust.
The psychiatrist is also said to have defrauded the NHS Trust in a similar way between May and November 2013, again by carrying out private paid work while receiving sick pay.
And the third charge alleges he abused his position as a doctor with Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust on various dates between January 2012 and April the following year.
It is said he did so by undertaking private consultations using the trust’s facilities during working hours, at a time when he was contracted and paid to be working for the Trust.
The court heard it was alleged by the prosecution that Suleman defrauded the NHS trust out of a total of around £45,000.
But his barrister Richard Davenport said: “He saw three patients on three days while off sick, and used the consultation rooms on 16 occasions. So it will be nowhere near the 45,000 alleged.”
The case was adjourned for trial, which will not take place until April next year, and Recorder Sam Mainds said Suleman should remain on unconditional bail.
