She modified her schedule.
A UK GP has been suspended for five months for booking two false appointments at the end of the working day to avoid being late for picking up his children.
Dr. Helen Eisenhauer, 43, was working at Stenhouse Medical Center in Arnold, England, when she scheduled the false appointments for an afternoon in 2024.
Dr. Helen Eisenhauer, 43, was working at Stenhouse Medical Center in Arnold, England, when she scheduled the false appointment for an afternoon in 2024. Cavendish Press
At a recent court hearing, the mother said she was “extremely ashamed” of her actions and admitted she struggled to balance her personal and professional responsibilities, The Times of London reported.
“This incident occurred at a time of particular stress for me, when I had to balance the demands of a young family with busy professional commitments,” Eisenhauer declared. “However, I fully acknowledge that this does not excuse my dishonesty.”
The harsh penalty sparked fierce debate in Britain, which has a severe shortage of doctors.
More than one in five Britons who had an appointment to see their GP in November had to wait at least two weeks, The Times reported. 7.5% of patients waited a month or more.
Although Eisenhauer works part-time, her annual income is estimated to be around £60,000 ($80,000), according to The Times.
“This incident occurred at a time of particular stress for me, when I had to balance the demands of a young family with busy professional commitments,” Eisenhauer declared. “However, I fully acknowledge that this does not excuse my dishonesty.” Cavendish Publishers
Pictured: The medical center where Eisenhauer was at when he arranged the false appointment. Facebook/Stenhouse Medical Center
Eisenhauer said she was suffering from sleep deprivation when she added the two fake dates to her diary.
The busy mum admitted she had not made appropriate childcare arrangements for the day and needed to pick up her children by 6pm. She worried that seeing two more patients would mean she wouldn’t be able to leave the clinic until then.
Eisenhauer had been working at the medical practice since 2018 when a partner noticed anomalies in her schedule and confronted her in a meeting.
Eisenhauer subsequently reported his condition to the British General Medical Council.
The doctor told a recent court hearing: “I am deeply ashamed and determined never to compromise the medical profession or myself again.”
Despite her remorse, she was suspended for five months.
“Dr Eisenhauer showed a reckless disregard for patient safety and professional standards,” tribunal chairman Neil Dalton declared.
Eisenhauer had been working at the medical practice since 2018 when a partner noticed anomalies in her schedule and confronted her in a meeting. Cavendish Press
Yet many mothers have rallied around Eisenhauer and say her case is proof that working parents need reform.
“It’s sad that our system pushes essential workers to these extremes,” one supporter said on social media.
Another parent said: “Anyone whose heart is racing to avoid being late for daycare or picking up their children after school will have tremendous sympathy for this woman.”
“I think the real issue is not that she did it, but that she had to,” a third declared.
