The South-Eastern Health Board has admitted that it did not check the references provided by a suspended English psychiatrist it employed as a locum at two of its hospitals last year.
Yesterday it emerged that Dr John Harding-Price had been the only candidate interviewed for the job as locum psychiatrist in the region. The SEHB has said that his references, three of which were from public hospital trusts in Britain for March and April 2000, were not checked out by the board.
"We took the references at face value", Mr John Magnier, South-Eastern Health Board regional manager for Carlow, Kilkenny and south Tipperary, told Radio Kilkenny. "We have difficulty recruiting locum consultants. There is not an abundance of consultants available."
Mr Magnier added: "This case has raised issues for all boards - this board and every other board - in relation to recruitment."
Dr Harding-Price was employed from April 17th to November 5th, 2000. The SEHB said the Irish Medical Council had registered him and a copy of his registration had been forwarded to the board. On this basis, he was appointed.
Meanwhile, the Medical Council said it was informed in April 2000 by the General Medical Council in Britain that Dr Price-Harding had been suspended the previous month following complaints of a sexual nature made by three patients. He is appealing his suspension to the Privy Council.
Following a review of information provided by the GMC, the Medical Council applied to the High Court to remove the psychiatrist from its medical register. This order was granted on January 29th, 2001. Following further legal challenges, the High Court ordered that Dr Harding-Price's name be restored to the register.
"The Medical Council has fully and promptly discharged all of its responsibilities in relation to this case", it said last night.
The SEHB has asked anyone concerned about having been treated by the doctor to contact it on 1800 300 654.
A spokeswoman for Lincolnshire Health Authority confirmed yesterday that Dr Harding-Price worked as a GP in the Lincoln area for about 10 years until March last year, when he "retired". She was not aware that he worked as a psychiatrist but said he "took an interest in people with mental difficulties". She was aware of his suspension, effective from March 2000.
Dr Harding-Price has not in recent years been registered as a psychiatrist on the British Medical Council's "specialist" list.