Cocaine claims medic suspended as probe launched

A CHILDREN’S BRAIN doctor has been suspended from clinical duties following the launch of an investigation into allegations he took illegal drugs before starting work on-call at the Leeds hospital where he is based.
Dr Colin Ferrie a Consultant Paediatric Neurologist at Leeds General InfirmaryDr Colin Ferrie a Consultant Paediatric Neurologist at Leeds General Infirmary
Dr Colin Ferrie a Consultant Paediatric Neurologist at Leeds General Infirmary

Leeds General Infirmary is probing claims that consultant paediatric neurologist Dr Colin Ferrie snorted cocaine and had several doses of GHB - known as a ‘date rape drug’ - ahead of the start of his shift.

Revelations in a Sunday newspaper showed stills of video footage with a man, alleged to be Dr Ferrie, taking drugs in a two-hour session with an acquaintance on December 17.

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The report went on to claim that, when contacted just over an hour later, a member of staff at LGI confirmed he was on-call.

Patient Concern, one of England’s leading campaign groups, said families would be ‘horrified’ at the idea a doctor could have been taking mind-altering substances before making life-or-death decisions over the care of young patients with conditions such as epilepsy.

Co-director Joyce Robins said: “You can’t have somebody taking things like that making life-or-death decisions.”

If the allegations are upheld, the married father-of-one faces disciplinary action for breaching trust policy on substance misuse and misconduct proceedings from the General Medical Council.

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When contacted by the Yorkshire Evening Post over allegations regarding Dr Ferrie, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust released a statement confirming an investigation is underway, and confirmed that a 51-year-old will not be carrying out clinical duties until it has concluded.

A spokesman said: “We take any allegations of this nature extremely seriously.

“Patient safety is our main priority and we expect all members of staff to behave in a professional and appropriate manner at all times. It is the trust’s policy when investigating allegations of this nature that staff involved do not carry out clinical duties during the investigation.”