A DOCTOR has admitted prescribing herself slimming pills and failing to examine a patient in childbirth properly while working at Basildon Hospital.

Dr Sucheta Jindal was working as a specialist registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology when she committed the offences.

The General Medical Council heard Dr Jindal prescribed herself a six-month supply of slimming pill Xenical between July and August 2008 at a cheaper NHS rate.

The prescription was written on a pad she wasn’t authorised to use, and written in a way that sought to conceal her identity.

Dr Jindal admitted she knew it was wrong to write the prescription, but denies telling Essex Police the Xenical was for family overseas.

She also admitted shortcomings when dealing with a patient at Basildon Hospital in April 2009.

She admitted a midwife asked her to look at the patient, but she didn’t promptly go to their bed.

When she did, she stopped the CTG trace – a device used to record the baby’s heartbeat and mother’s contractions – without giving further instructions to anyone.

Dr Jindal didn’t tell the patient what she was doing, examine her, document any clinical findings or write up a plan for the patient’s care as asked. She also admitted telling the midwife the patient should be sent home.

Later that day, Dr Jindal removed a section of the CTG document with her signature on it, and put a false statement into the patient’s notes stating she hadn’t given an instruction to repeat the CTG trace in two hours.

A spokeswoman for Basildon Hospital said: “Our concerns about Dr Jindal’s behaviour went through a disciplinary procedure, which resulted in her being referred to the General Medical Council. She hasn’t worked here since August 2009.”

The hearing in Manchester is expected to last until September 12. The council has the power to decide if Dr Jindal is fit to practice.