Doctor faked CPD certificates for his appraisals during ‘a period of high stress’, tribunal hears

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By Daniel Pye

A doctor has admitted faking certificates to speed up the appraisal process so that he could return to clinical work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr Ahmed Abdelghani received a four month suspension after admitting submitting false career professional development certificates for three appraisals. He said he did not understand the seriousness of the appraisal process in the NHS.

Abdelghani started working as a registrar in general and breast surgery at South Tees NHS Foundation Trust in 2019, having retired from working as a doctor in the Egyptian army the year before.

He told the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service he had never had to submit a formal appraisal before, stating he had come from a career which did not have a comparable process.

Abdelghani added he accepted “bad advice” from an individual who suggested he provide false certificates and offered to produce these for him before his first appraisal covering the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.