A BOLTON anaesthetist failed to properly care for patients in his care, a misconduct hearing has heard.
Dr Rajat Subhra Banaer- jee was employed as a staff grade doctor in anaesthetics at the Royal Bolton Hospital at the time of the allega- tions — between February, 2009, and November, 2010.
Dr Banaerjee is accused of a string of failures against patients at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust during
this period. He is accused of failing to adequately monitor and maintain supervision of two patients at the Royal Bolton in May 2009.
Dr Banaerjee is also accused of failing to comply with the infection control initiative while drawing up solutions for a spinal injec- tion in the same month.
The hearing has been told that in January, 2010, he failed to take adequate pre- cautions in the administra- tion of medicine to a patient in relation to muscular paralysis, and a month later he is accused of undertak-
ing clinical duties “despite feeling unwell” and of fail- ing to devise and implement a treatment strategy for the same patient despite evi- dence of lung dysfunction.
In May, 2010, it is claimed he failed to ensure adequate provision of anaesthesia fol- lowing the transfer of a patient to theatre for an operation.
In addition to the charges at the Royal Bolton, Dr Banaerjee is accused of a string of failures against patients at St Helens and Knowsley NHS Trust between January, 2002, and July, 2007.
These include leaving anaestatised patients unat- tended, leaving a patient during a critical stage of their procedure and going on paid study leave for courses he did not attend.
A fitness to practice panel, from the Medical Practi- tioners Tribunal Service, heard the allegations against Dr Banaerjee at a hearing in St James’s Build- ing, Manchester, this week.
The hearing is expected to last until April 23.
The panel will decide whether Dr Banaerjee’s fit- ness to practise is impaired by his misconduct.