HE NEEDS TO KNOW
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Dr Helen Eisenhauer, a general practitioner at Stenhouse Medical Center in the UK, faces a five-month suspension after admitting she faked two appointments to pick up her children on time.
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“The incident happened over a year ago at a particularly stressful time for me when I had to balance the demands of my young family with busy professional commitments,” she admitted during a hearing.
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In a statement, the medical center said it “offered its continued support” to the doctor and retained “full confidence in her clinical capabilities.”
A doctor in England has been suspended after admitting he booked fake appointments so he could leave work in time to pick up his children.
Dr. Helen Eisenhauer, a general practitioner at Stenhouse Medical Center in Arnold, faces a five-month suspension after she booked two appointments last year with patients she had already seen to ensure she could pick up her children by 6 p.m., according to a misconduct case heard by the general medical counsel.
“The incident occurred over a year ago at a particularly stressful time for me when I had to balance the demands of my young family with busy professional commitments. I fully accept, however, that this does not excuse my dishonesty,” Eisenhauer said in a statement to the medical tribunal. “I am deeply ashamed of my behavior since July 2024 and am determined never to compromise the medical profession or myself.”
The incident occurred on July 17, 2024, according to court records.
That day, Eisenhauer was supposed to finish work at 4:45 p.m., and she admitted she felt “worried” she wouldn’t be able to leave on time if she ended up being booked into any last-minute meetings.
She went on to make two face-to-face appointments for the end of her shift, even though she had already seen both patients earlier that day.
Two days later, a colleague at her office noticed that there were no notes from one of the meetings.
“I remember feeling embarrassed and worried about what my colleagues would think of me that I made the reservation,” Eisenhauer said at the hearing, going on to say that he added to the notes even though the consultation never took place.
“I did it in the middle of my work day without thinking,” she said. “I didn’t consider the consequences of writing this entry at the time. I only remember the worry and embarrassment.”
When her actions eventually led to a “disciplinary meeting” at her practice, Dr. Eisenhauer — who initially denied any wrongdoing — went before the General Medical Council on July 17, 2024.
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Eisenhauer testified under cross-examination that there was nothing unusual on the day of the incident and that he simply failed to make adequate back-up provision for child care.
“I am fully aware of the importance of honesty and probity in my personal and professional life and the impact that dishonest actions can have on the profession and public confidence in the profession,” she continued. “I am deeply ashamed of my behavior since July 2024 and am determined never to compromise the medical profession or myself.”
During the hearing, her legal representative claimed that Eisenhaur did not sleep well and that if she did not pick up her children on time that day, she “may have lost that child care service.”
In a statement, tribunal chairman Neil Dalton said Eisenhauer “showed a reckless disregard for patient safety and professional standards”.
“Her actions undermined collaborative work, betraying the trust her colleagues needed to place in her probity as they worked alongside her on a daily basis,” Dalton added.
In their final ruling, the tribunal considered all factors, including “falsification of records” – and said they considered no action due to the “exceptional circumstances” of the case. However, they ultimately decided on a five-month suspension.
On Wednesday, December 31, Stenhouse Medical Center shared a statement on social media regarding the incident.
“When concerns were first raised in July 2024, the practice undertook a comprehensive internal investigation, following which appropriate action was taken, including a self-referral to the GMC by Dr Eisenhauer,” the practice wrote on Facebook. “In the interim, the partners have provided ongoing support to Dr. Eisenhauer and have maintained full confidence in her clinical capabilities.”
“Our focus continues to be on supporting the well-being of Dr. Eisenhauer, our staff and patients while providing compassionate, safe and reliable care,” they added.
Stenhouse Medical Center did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for further comment.
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