A doctor drove at more than three times the drink-drive limit a day after he was sacked by Bolton NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Paul Dunne was sacked by the trust for the "misappropriation" of medication over a year and a half from January 2020.

The day after the decision, in August 2022, he drove at more than three times the drink-drive limit in Helsby, Cheshire, for which he was sentenced to a 12-month community order and a 26-month driving disqualification at Chester Magistrates Court. To make matters worse he did not tell the General Medical Council (GMC) about his conviction for a number of weeks contrary to professional standards.

His case, including the conviction and the "misappropriation" of medication, was up for consideration by a tribunal this month.

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A ruling said: "Driving a motor vehicle in those circumstances would have been dangerous. Dr Dunne would not have been protecting, promoting and maintaining the health, safety and well-being of the public. 

"The sentence imposed on Dr Dunne, which included a driving disqualification, reflected the seriousness of his behaviour which led to his conviction."

The tribunal was partly in public, partly in private, so the motivation for the "misappropriation" of medication is unknown other than it was for his use.

Dr Dunne apologised for his actions and the tribunal acknowledged there was a low likelihood of repetition if and when Dr Dunne switches his career as a consultant cardiologist for a career as a GP.

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A ruling said: "A period of suspension would serve to delay Dr Dunne's retraining as a GP. The tribunal considered he is ready to embark upon retraining and a period of suspension would be counter-productive.

"It did not consider the public would be dismayed by the imposition of a period of conditions if it knew the circumstances."

The period of conditions is for 18 months and it includes conditions requiring Dr Dunne to tell the GMC what he is working as and where he is working as well as restricting his ability to administer medication.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.