Family Doctor Faces Five Month Ban for Inventing Patient Visits to Beat School Run Pressure in Arnold Nottingham

On paper, it looked like an ordinary afternoon at a GP surgery near Nottingham. But behind the scenes, one doctor was quietly bending the rules to make sure she could get out the door on time. That decision — made under pressure and panic — has now cost her the right to treat patients, at least for a while.

Why the School Run Became the Breaking Point

Dr Helen Eisenhauer, 43, was juggling part-time locum work with raising two young children. Her fear wasn’t dramatic or unusual: a last-minute patient being added to her list, pushing her past her 4.45pm finish and making her late for the 6pm after-school club deadline.

That anxiety led her to do something she now openly admits was wrong. On one July afternoon in 2024, she booked two face-to-face appointments at the end of her shift — even though she had already spoken to both patients by phone earlier that day and knew they didn’t need to come in.

How the False Appointments Were Discovered

The plan might have gone unnoticed, but inconsistencies in the booking system raised eyebrows. A partner at Stenhouse Medical Centre spotted irregularities in Dr Eisenhauer’s diary and called her in for a meeting.

At first, she denied any misconduct. But further checks revealed she had not only blocked out her late-afternoon slots to stop new patients being added, she had also entered notes to make it look as though the in-person consultations had actually taken place.

From Denial to Admission

Dr Eisenhauer later referred herself to the General Medical Council and admitted dishonesty. She told the tribunal she had been struggling badly with sleep deprivation and the pressure of balancing work and family life.

Initially, she claimed confusion — saying she had mixed up which patients she had already seen. But under oath, she accepted that wasn’t true. The real reason, she said, was fear: fear that an empty slot would be filled and she’d be stuck at work while her children waited.

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“A Predictable Challenge” Under Scrutiny

During questioning, Dr Eisenhauer acknowledged that there was nothing exceptional about that day. It was a normal working afternoon, and the childcare dilemma she faced was one many professionals deal with daily.

She had also chosen to take on extra locum work without arranging a backup plan for childcare — a decision the tribunal took into account when weighing her actions.

The Wider NHS Backdrop

The case landed at a time when frustration over GP access is already running high. NHS figures show appointment delays have continued to worsen, with millions waiting more than four weeks to see a doctor during the autumn months.

Against that backdrop, the tribunal heard that falsifying records — even when no patients were directly harmed — undermines a system already under intense strain.

Regret, Shame, and Consequences

Dr Eisenhauer didn’t shy away from expressing remorse. She told the hearing she felt she had let down both herself and the profession, describing deep shame over what she had done.

But the GMC’s representative argued that repeated dishonesty went beyond a single poor decision, saying her actions damaged trust between colleagues and weakened safeguards meant to protect patients.

The Tribunal’s Verdict

The panel agreed. Tribunal chairman Neil Dalton said Dr Eisenhauer showed reckless disregard for professional standards and for patient safety, even if no immediate harm occurred.

Her punishment: a five-month suspension from medical practice.

What’s Next?

Dr Eisenhauer will be barred from treating patients for the duration of her suspension, after which her fitness to return will be reviewed. The case serves as a stark reminder that while work-life pressures are real and widespread, cutting corners in healthcare — even quietly — can carry heavy professional consequences.