ECSTASY DOCTOR ESCAPED WITH WARNING

A young doctor who was caught by a police sniffer dog with ecstasy in
his pocket has escaped with a warning from his professional body.

Dr Jacob Bayley was exhausted mentally and physically' after a week
working night shifts in the run-up to Christmas at Bradford Royal
Infirmary, the General Medical Council heard.

He bought the drug in a London nightclub on the first night of his
two-week Christmas holiday, after he travelled to the capital to see
friends.

advertisementBut Dr Bayley was caught the next evening with the
ecstasy still in his pocket, when a police sniffer dog reacted as he
walked through Liverpool Street station and he was immediately searched.

Dr Bayley was given a police caution for possessing a class A
drug.

His bosses at Bradford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust investigated the
incident but decided to take no further action.

The General Medical Council ruled Dr Bayley's fitness to practice was
not impaired, but decided to warn him.

Panel chairman Dr Kevin Walters told the hearing Dr Bayley had made
one mistake for which he was sorry, and testimonials showed he was
otherwise "a hard working, honest and caring doctor".

Dr Walters said: "The panel takes a serious view of your conduct in
the possession of a Class A drug because such behaviour is capable of
undermining public confidence in the medical profession.

"However, the panel is satisfied that your behaviour would not have
caused patient harm, and you have insight into the circumstances and
effect of the incident."

Dr Bayley qualified at Leeds University in July 2005, just six months
before the ecstasy incident, and began work at the Bradford hospital
almost immediately.

In the week running up to Christmas he had been working night shifts
on a busy acute surgical ward, and in a letter to the GMC claimed he
was "both exhausted physically and mentally".

He began his two weeks' leave on December 15, and that night travelled
to London and bought the drugs.

The following evening at about 7.30pm, a police sniffer dog reacted as
he walked through Liverpool Street station.

Dr Bayley co-operated fully with police and on March 4, 2006, he
received an official police caution. He informed his hospital bosses
and the GMC, as is his obligation.

Dr Bayley will now have a warning on his record, which will last five
years and all employers will be informed.

He is otherwise free to practise as a doctor.