Consultant in Baby P case banned

THE hospital consultant at the centre of the Baby P scandal has been banned from practising, the General Medical Council announced today.

Dr Sabah Al-Zayat failed to carry out a full examination of the toddler, who died two days later after suffering months of abuse from his mother, her boyfriend and a lodger, because the boy was "miserable and cranky".

A post-mortem examination revealed injuries including a broken back and eight broken ribs, which were understood to have been inflicted before Dr Al-Zayat saw the baby.

After the case came to light, Dr Al-Zayyat of Ilford had her contract with Great Ormond Street Hospital - responsible for child services in Haringey - terminated and she was banned from working unsupervised.

The GMC has now suspended her registration. The decision was made in private last Friday but only made public today. It will be reconsidered in February.

The handling of the case has attracted widespread condemnation after it emerged that a string of social workers and doctors failed to spot that the 17-month-old was the victim of abuse.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Al-Zayat qualified in Pakistan and worked in Saudi Arabia before coming to Britain in 2004. She had noticed bruises on Baby P's body.

In a statement last week made through the Medical Protection Society, which gives professional indemnity, she said: "Like everyone involved in this case, I have been deeply affected by the shocking and tragic circumstances of this young child's death.

"My professional career has been devoted to the care of children. I will co-operate with any investigation to identify whether lessons can be learnt from this case."