By Dolores Cowburn
Arif Alam was at one time employed by Health and Social Services
A POLICE investigation is under way to establish whether a former Jersey
psychiatrist was prescribing himself drugs when he worked in the mental health unit of the Hospital.
Arif Alam (41) was given a suspended jail sentence and 200 hours of community
service in Croydon Crown Court last Monday after pleading guilty to fraudulently obtaining prescription drugs while employed by Oxleas NHS Trust between August 2006 and August 2007.
The doctor was employed as a psychiatrist in Jersey’s mental health unit until his arrest in March, when he was escorted to the UK by the Metropolitan Police.
Once Dr Alam was arrested, an audit was carried out by the Health Department regarding his work in Jersey, and it is understood that this audit gave cause for concern.
Ian Dyer, directorate manager of Mental Health Services, confirmed that an audit took place, but stressed that patients had never been put at risk during the time they were treated by Dr Alam.
Article posted on 14th October, 2009 - 2.59pm
Police investigate Jersey activities of criminal doctor