A DOCTOR who quit the UK after he was found to be falling below professional standards at Southend Hospital has been told he can return – if he follows a specific set of rules.

Doctor Ioannis Tsakiris was working at Southend Hospital as a locum middle grade registrar in general surgery in 2018 when he failed a performance review.

“His professional performance was unacceptable due to his failing to maintain his professional performance, his assessment of patients’ condition and his clinical management.”

He was further criticised for failing to treat patients with “fairness and respect”.

The review proved “deficient professional performance” and ruled he must, aged 47, step down a level and work as a core trainee for at least two years.

After failing to mention the review when interviewing for a new role at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, he was suspended by Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust which runs Southend Hospital.

Dr Tsakiris returned home to Greece, where he has worked in hospitals as a surgeon since.

A Medical Practitioners Tribunal this month ruled that if Dr Tsakiris were to return to the UK to work, he would no longer have to work for two years as a trainee.

Lawyers for the General Medical Council (GMC) argued “that Dr Tsakiris remains a risk to patient safety, and submitted that the Tribunal should find that his fitness to practise is currently impaired”.

They added: “A member of the public would be shocked and troubled to learn that Dr Tsakiris has been permitted to practise medicine without restriction given the deficiencies identified in his professional performance.”

At the hearing, Dr Tsakiris acknowledged that “his fitness to practise in the UK is currently impaired”.

But he claimed, while his fitness to practise “remains impaired in respect of working at a senior level” in the UK, he is capable of working at a specialist registrar level.

The board agreed with this assessment.

However, if he were to take a job, he would have to abide by a strict set of rules for 24 months.

He will have to contact the GMC and inform them of where he works, who his supervisors are and what his job title is.

He must keep the GMC informed of his training and must undertake another performance assessment.