Drink-driving GP suspended for further six months

A doctor who crashed his car into a wall while almost four times over the legal limit for alcohol has been given a further suspension.

Dr Josu Mendiguren, a former partner at Townsend Medical Centre in Anfield, Liverpool, was convicted of drink-driving after being seen staggering from his car having crashed it into a number of parked vehicles in July 2023.

He was suspended for a period of six months following a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) hearing in November, but this has now been extended to 12 months.

A panel meeting in May found Mendiguren had failed to engage with officials to show he was fit to return to work and understood the severity of his misconduct.

Panel members extended his suspension following the private review hearing, with a report saying the tribunal had seen "no evidence to suggest that Dr Mendiguren has changed his perspective on this matter, or that he now has more insight".

As a result, officials considered that a 12-month suspension would mark the seriousness of the impairment found in this case, in respect of Dr Mendiguren's misconduct and conviction.

The MPTS tribunal hearing last November determined the doctor's fitness to practise had been impaired, but it was later found Mendiguren did not inform the General Medical Council (GMC) of his conviction, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Mendiguren joined Townsend Medical Centre as a GP in 2002, where he remained until September 2024, later becoming a partner.

The November hearing was told how he had been drinking on the morning of the crash in July 2023.

Panel members heard how he crashed into a series of parked cars before hitting a wall.

Jade Bucklow, on behalf of the GMC, said he was seen staggering from his car into a building opposite, thought to be his house.

When apprehended by police, the doctor provided a breath sample of 130mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath - almost four times over the legal limit of 35mg.

He was convicted at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on 1 August 2023 and was banned from driving for 30 months, ordered to undertake 160 hours of unpaid work, and instructed to abstain from alcohol for 80 days.

However, the doctor failed to inform GMC officials "without delay" about his charge and conviction.

The doctor also admitted to turning up to work on one occasion while under the influence of alcohol.

Despite his protestations, another charge found, on at least one occasion, Mendiguren had conducted a telephone consultation while drunk.

Two further charges were also admitted and found proved, but were not made public.

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