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Top NHS Doctor Under Police Investigation; Forbidden to Contact Patients

By Joie M Gahum | Update Date: Feb 22, 2017 11:59 PM EST

NHS top figures in the hospital industry are being investigated by the police and are permitted from contacting his patients since January. Dr. Jonathan Fielded, National Deputy Medical Director and Director of Specialized Commissioning and has been restricted to interact with his patients while police investigations are being conducted.

Telegraph UK reports that Dr. Jonathan Fielden, one of the most powerful figures in the NHS has not been at work since January and is restricted to communicate with his patients. The doctor's regulator also told Fielden if changes have been made to his bail conditions. Fielden is a high-profile anesthetist and intensive care specialist that joined NHS England leadership back in 2016 and was the previous medical director at the University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust.

NHS England did not reveal why Fielden was being investigated and comments "Dr. Fielden is off work for personal reasons." The GMC expects to receive information on the progress of the police investigation as well as the revised bail dates, conditions and any criminal charges Dr. Fielden is facing within 48 hours. Dr. Fielden is also responsible for several controversial budgetary decisions.

Meanwhile, NHS trust in England has reported a deficit of £886m at the end of the third quarter which is £300m more than the target for the end of the fiscal year. The NHS Improvement also predicts that a year-end deficit of £750m-£850m, much higher than the £580m previously described as the highest figure the health service is possible without facing major financial problems in the institution as reported by The Guardian.

However, this prediction was immediately withdrawn after the financial hit the institution faced due to the most challenging winter the institution faced from October to December 2016.

The deficit, regarded by the NHS as a "tragedy" was due to 200,000 more or 3.5 percent increase in the number of patients that required a major in-hospital treatment during the winter period in the UK. The NHS trusts are £300m behind the target of reducing the provider sector deficit to £580m by the end of March due to the pressure winter has brought.

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