By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
The selection of a GP, who accessed a patient’s records to get her telephone number to text suggesting a “pub lunch”, as a Gloucestershire County Council candidate has been defended by the Green Party.
Richard Dean received a formal warning after a medical practitioners’ tribunal concluded that his fitness was not impaired in 2018.
The now Dursley candidate was working as a locum GP at the Avenue Surgery in Cirencester when he saw the patient, an aid worker.
The BMJ and Daily Mail reported in 2018 that Dr Dean obtained the patient’s number from her records and contacted her with his own mobile phone.
He suggested that they meet for a pub lunch and said that he “would love to know more” about her work, according to the reports. The patient was “surprised and perturbed,” the tribunal heard and complained to the practice.
The Green Party said in a statement that Dr Dean fully disclosed to them the medical practitioners’ tribunal outcome. “In 2017, at the time of the incident, Dr Dean was closely involved with helping refugees in Bristol,” a party spokesperson said.
“A patient came to see him and during their consultation, they briefly talked about his work with refugees. After the consultation, Dr Dean texted the patient to ask if she might be interested in helping female African refugees in Bristol.
“This contact was referred to the General Medical Council by the senior partner at the practice. At the tribunal, Dr Dean acknowledged that he breached professional boundary standards by contacting the patient.
“And he subsequently attended a course to firm up his knowledge of these guidelines. The tribunal cleared Dr Dean of any malpractice and, importantly, did not revoke his licence to practice. He was free to continue working as a GP, whic he has continued to do locally.
“This outcome was not reported on by the Daily Mail.”
Adrian Oldman, Stroud District Green Party coordinator, said Dr Dean is kind, compassionate, enthusiastic and committed to serving the local community. “Having been door-knocking with him during the election campaign so far, I have seen how well-received he has been by residents.
“He is personable, well-informed about local issues and genuinely interested in residents’ views. I have no doubt that he will be the best person to represent the Dursley Division as their county councillor. He has the Green Party’s full support.”
Other candidates standing for the Dursley dvision include Labour’s Anna Mainwaring, Conservative Loraine Ptrick, Richard Wilsher of the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK’s Jonathan Wren.