TWO Birmingham Primary Care Trusts are investigating allegations that a bogus GP treated patients at two surgeries in the city.

The unqualified medic worked at the Al-Shafa Medical Centre, in Little Oaks Road, Aston, along with another surgery, it has been claimed.

The man no longer works at the health centres and was not one of the regular GPs registered at the surgeries.

But he is believed to have been brought in temporarily to ease patient waiting times.

It is feared that thousands of patients could have been put in danger by the man who allegedly carried out consultations and wrote prescriptions.

Birmingham East and North PCT and Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT launched the investigation at the beginning of March, after scores of patients complained about him and questioned his legitimacy as a doctor, an insider claimed.

The source said PCT chiefs hauled GPs running both surgeries into a hearing over the allegations and notified police. They also claimed that criminal record checks were not carried out on the man, who had travelled to work in the UK from overseas.

“Patients were being booked in to see a doctor, but there is now an investigation into him not actually being a doctor or having the qualifications to work in this country,” said the source.

“There are also claims that he was writing and signing prescriptions, which is illegal, and that no criminal record checks were carried out even though he would be dealing with children and vulnerable patients.

“This is being taken extremely seriously by the authorities. It is also very embarrassing.”

Sarah Tombs, Heart of Birmingham Teaching Primary Care Trust spokeswoman, said: “We are aware of this and an investigation is taking place. We cannot comment any further at this time.”

Amos Mallard, Birmingham East and North Primary Care Trust spokesman, said: “We cannot comment further given that anything we say could prejudice the police investigation currently underway.”

The Al-Shafa Medical Centre was contacted over the allegations and a spokeswoman refused to comment.

Investigators at the NHS Counter Fraud Service would lead any criminal proceedings against the man if claims are proved founded.

A spokesman for the Service said he could not confirm or deny if an investigation was under way until a matter reached court.

The allegations have come to light days bogus dentist Vinisha Sharma, aged 37, of Honeybourne Way, Willenhall, was jailed for three years for using a fake degree certificate to gain work at a string of NHS hospitals.

Sharma earned almost £230,000 over nearly nine years while working illegally.