Working Restrictions For Doctor

A young doctor who tried to sell her staff pass for free hospital parking can only work as a medic again under strict conditions, watchdogs have ruled.

Katharine White, a foundation year doctor, put her free permit to park at Southampton General Hospital up for sale for #5 on the website Gumtree, the Fitness to Practise Panel of the General Medical Council (GMC) was told.

NHS fraud investigators found out she later claimed a senior colleague made a sexual advance in exchange for "looking more favourably'' on the problem.

Privately-educated Dr White, from Salcot Road, Winchester, was accused of making false allegations after she was called to a meeting with a senior male colleague to discuss the parking permit.

During the meeting, on October 14, 2008, Dr White alleged she was firstly warned she could get the sack by her employers, the Southampton University Hospital NHS Trust.

But the more senior colleague is then alleged to have gone on to say: "I can ensure that the trust looks on your case more favourably'' and put his hand on her knee before adding: "What will you do for me?''

But Brian McCluggage, counsel for the GMC, told the hearing in Manchester the allegation had ``no basis'' and was a ``defence mechanism'' to counteract her difficulty over the parking permit.

The doctor, who is in her 20s and qualified after completing her medical degree at the University of London in 2007, was not present or legally represented at the hearing.

She was also accused of breaking a ban on her entering the hospital and failing to attend an examination by a psychiatrist as requested by the GMC.

The GMC has placed 13 conditions on her registration to work, which will last for six months.

Most of the conditions have not been made public but the GMC ruled Dr White must notify the body if she accepts a job as a doctor and work under supervision.

She must also tell her new employers of the conditions imposed by the medical watchdog.