A Merseyside-based doctor who lied to bosses about being off sick pocketed almost £10,000 in pay she wasn’t entitled to.
Dr Tracy Landu-Landu told officials at St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust how between August and December 2020 she was unable to work due to illness. As a result she was given sick pay.
At the same time, she undertook almost 40 shifts at hospitals more than 150 miles away while collecting thousands of pounds for being off work. A Medical Practitioner Tribunal Service (MPTS) hearing was told how the doctor was suspended from practice for nine months.
A report released following the completion of the hearing detailed how Dr Landu-Landu was employed as a GP speciality trainee in St Helens and Knowsley, having joined the UK Medical Register in 2018. Concerns were raised with the General Medical Council following an investigation.
From August 25 to December 21, 2020, Dr Landu-Landu undertook a series of locum shifts for United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust. During this time she was paid almost £10,000 in sick pay.
The tribunal was told Dr Landu-Landu eventually admitted misconduct.
In evidence, she said a conversation with her former partner about being dismissed if she worked while claiming sick pay, took place after the investigation had started.
Dr Landu-Landu said during an initial call in December 2020 with the trust’s HR partner, when asked if she had been working while off sick, she had explained that she was not in a position to talk due to the distress. She explained she was not on sick leave and was asked by her lead employer to get a new sick note. The doctor said she knew she had acted wrongly.
During cross examination Dr Landu-Landu accepted the telephone attendance note made at the time by the HR business partner recorded that when asked if she had worked while claiming sick pay she said no, which was a lie. The tribunal heard almost £3,000 had been repaid by Dr Landu-Landu who was having “some difficulties arranging to pay.” In mitigation, the doctor said the incident occurred a while ago, she now knew what she did was wrong.
Dr Landu-Landu told the tribunal she was in a very difficult place in her life at the time. It is expected the full amount would be repaid in 18 months.
In deciding to suspend the doctor for a period of nine months, the report said it was considered how Dr Landu-Landu allowed the dishonesty to continue for a number of months, and she benefited financially from her dishonesty.
It was satisfied that Dr Landu-Landu knew, or ought to have known, that her conduct was wrong and that her actions were deliberate.
