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Private work for Doctor on sick pay
A hospital doctor is at the centre of controversy after it was claimed he is working privately one day a week while on sick pay from his £70,000 NHS job.
William MacLeod, a neurologist at the District General Hospital, has been signed off sick with stress since last December.
But the 54-year-old hit national newspaper headlines because he is still working privately one day a week at the Esperance Hospital.
NHS managers at Eastbourne District General Hospital admit they know he is working while on sick leave but say they have no control over his private work.
His secretary is still taking appointments at the Esperance.
A DGH spokesman said yesterday, "We can confirm that Dr MacLeod has been on certificated sick leave. We are aware that he continues to practise privately and have made the Esperance Hospital aware of the situation.
"NHS consultants are able to work in the private sector in addition to their NHS duties under the nationally agreed terms of their contract. We have no power to restrict what they can do in their private time.
"This consultant's work in the private sector is a matter between the private hospital and the consultant. In this case, our occupational health team is managing this situation as far as his NHS work is concerned and we are being guided by occupational health as to his return."
Dr MacLeod told a national newspaper this week the lighter workload was good for his health and was adamant he was guilty of no impropriety.
He told the newspaper, "My GP signed me off my NHS work and it's none of your business what I'm paid."
The story prompted a concerned reaction from Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker.
"If this is true, then it raises questions that need to be answered," said Mr Baker.
"On the face of it, it is difficult to understand how a person can be too ill to work for the NHS and so qualify for sick pay from the public purse when at the same time being well enough to continue their private practice.
"This seems to me to raise an important point of principle and I have written to the Health Secretary asking him to investigate."
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Weather for Eastbourne
Sunday 12 February 2012
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Temperature: 1 C to 5 C
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