(Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
A Yarm GP who showed a “reckless disregard for patient safety” by falsifying patient records has been suspended.
Dr Yakubu Benjamin attempted to hide his mistakes by making false records for three patients while working as a GP at Yarm Medical Practice in November 2024.
The doctor recorded conducting physical examinations and holding discussions with two patients that were untrue and falsely recording information from a third patient over the phone.
A Medical Practitioners Tribunal heard how the GP had learnt some “highly destabilising and devastating” news at the time, so much so that the “emotional weight was unbearable”.
However, the Tribunal found that Dr Benjamin had shown a “reckless disregard for patient safety and professional standards” and had “put his own interests before those of his patients”.
The “highly respected” GP, who only started at the Worsall Road practice in September 2024, cooperated when a probe was launched but his contract was terminated on November 27.
He has now been suspended for three months.
Dr Benjamin, who qualified in 2010 in Nigeria before moving to the UK to work as a speciality registrar in integrated sexual health, admitted his actions were dishonest with all three patients.
He admitted that he “should not have worked at all” after hearing the “tragic” news, the nature of which has not been detailed in the Tribunal’s public record.
‘Not thinking straight’
Dr Benjamin admitted recording that he had examined Patient A’s knees and hips on November 1 when this was untrue, saying this was to cover up his mistake.
He also accepted making false records about how Patient B was “happy with pain control” after a phone call on November 6 and examining Patient C’s hips and movement on November 11.
Dr Benjamin told the Tribunal that he was “not thinking straight” during Patient B’s call, and that on the day of Patient C’s consultation, he was “rushing to have some time for himself”.
Yarm Medical Centre on Worsall Road (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
He admitted that he should not have worked at the time and sought support but was “eager to impress his new employer”, and had “let himself down” as a result.
Ms Ferrario, counsel for the General Medical Council, argued Dr Benjamin’s dishonesty meant his fitness to practise was impaired.
She said the abuse of trust “demonstrated a deliberate disregard for patient safety” and that he “put his own interests before those of his patients and had not declared his dishonesty”.
While acknowledging the “difficult circumstances” facing the GP at the time, Ms Ferrario said he had not provided medical evidence to show that his judgement was impaired at the time.
‘Highly respected and capable’
Mr Irwin, on behalf of Dr Benjamin, said he admitted all allegations but that his fitness to practise was not impaired.
He said that no other concerns had been raised across his 16 year career and cited testimonials that described him as a “highly respected and capable doctor”.
A reflective statement from Dr Benjamin describes how the “emotional weight was unbearable” after learning of the news and that, in hindsight, he should have taken time off.
“Now, I live with the double regret of failing [XXX] and my patients,” he said.
After leaving Yarm Medical Practice, Dr Benjamin took up a new post at the Thornaby and Barwick Medical Group, where he worked between January and December 2025.
He now works as a locum GP - a temporary, sessional, or short-term basis doctor - at practices across Teesside.
Mr Irwin argued the risk of repetition was low, citing his unblemished record, his remediation, and how it took place over a “very short period of time and in unique circumstances”.
The Tribunal accepted that the incidents “did not arise from deep seated attitude issues and beliefs” and noted how Mr Benjamin had recognised his wrongdoing and shown remorse.
Read more
Two men seriously injured and four arrested after 'linked' street attacks
How MFC Foundation and the 'power of the badge' are saving lives across Teesside
Minute's applause at Sunderland game for teens killed in River Wear crash tragedy
It concluded that he had shown a good level of insight and had taken meaningful steps towards remediation, namely engaging in professional ethics courses.
However, it said Dr Benjamin poses a “current and ongoing risk to the promotion of proper professional standard in the medical profession” due to the seriousness of the incidents.
The Tribunal decided it did not warrant complete removal from the register but suspended him for three months, saying it was an “appropriate and proportionate response”.