A family doctor has been suspended from practising for five months after inventing medical appointments in order to finish work in time for the afternoon school run.

Dr Helen Eisenhauer, 43, a part-time locum GP, created two fictional face-to-face appointments for patients she had already consulted by telephone earlier the same day. A medical practitioners tribunal heard that she did so to ensure she could leave the surgery by her usual finishing time of 4.45pm.

The panel was told that Dr Eisenhauer had been finding it increasingly difficult to manage the competing demands of her professional workload and her responsibilities as a parent. She explained that she had been struggling to balance the two and that the school run had become a particular source of pressure.

Dr Eisenhauer said:

‘I was struggling to “juggle my work and parental responsibilities”.’

The tribunal heard that on the day in question, Dr Eisenhauer had conducted telephone consultations with two patients. These were then recorded as in-person appointments that did not in fact take place. This created the impression that she was still seeing patients in the surgery when she had already completed the consultations remotely.

At the tribunal, Dr Eisenhauer said:

‘I was worried about what might be booked in and the impact this might have on my finishing time. I recall thinking that the slot needed to have a named patient booked in and so added Patient B. I recall worrying that the slot could otherwise be filled with another patient that may delay my day further.’

Although there was no allegation that patient safety had been compromised, the tribunal ruled that honesty and accuracy in medical records were essential to maintaining public trust in the profession. Fabricating appointments, it said, represented a serious departure from the standards expected of a GP.

In its decision, the panel acknowledged that Dr Eisenhauer had shown insight and remorse, and that she had been open about the pressures she was under. It also accepted that the behaviour had taken place against a background of genuine difficulty in combining clinical duties with family life.

However, it concluded that her actions amounted to misconduct that risked undermining confidence in the wider medical profession. As a result, the tribunal imposed a five-month suspension from practice.

Tribunal Chairman Neil Dalton said:

‘Dr Eisenhauer displayed a reckless disregard both for patient safety and for professional standards. By such actions she undermined collaborative working, betraying the trust her colleagues needed to be able to place in her probity, as they worked side‑by‑side with her on a daily basis.’

The case has highlighted the strain faced by many healthcare professionals who are also parents, particularly within overstretched general practice. Locum GPs often work across multiple practices and can face unpredictable workloads and changing schedules. When this coincides with fixed childcare responsibilities or school collection times, the pressures can become acute.

Experts say that while flexible working arrangements are increasingly encouraged within the NHS, the reality on the ground can still be challenging. Appointment lists that overrun, last-minute emergencies and staffing shortages can all make it difficult for doctors to leave on time. This is particularly true in smaller practices where there may be fewer colleagues available to share the workload.

The tribunal stated that while it had sympathy for Dr Eisenhauer’s situation, the proper course of action would have been to raise the issue with practice management rather than altering records. Transparency, it said, was fundamental to safe and ethical care.

Dr Eisenhauer told the panel that she deeply regretted her actions and had learned from the experience. She said that her intention had not been to mislead for personal gain, but to find a way to meet her commitments as both a doctor and a parent.

Her suspension is temporary, and she will be able to return to practice after the five-month period ends, subject to any conditions set by the regulator.

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