Dr Syeda Siddiqui Faces Tribunal Over Blood-Stained Gloves Allegations

Dr Syeda Siddiqui faces a General Medical Council misconduct tribunal over allegations that she examined patients using non-sterile gloves contaminated with the blood of a previous patient at clinics in Warrington and Stockport, bbc.com reported. The regulatory body charged the ophthalmology specialist with carrying out examinations with soiled protective wear on 7 August 2024 and 10 December 2024 after previously performing minor operations on other individuals.

According to the coverage, Dr Siddiqui qualified from the University of Manchester in 1984 and holds registrations with both the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Physicians. While her case remains pending, the General Medical Council placed the practitioner under strict conditions of practice that prohibit her from performing any surgical procedures unless she receives direct supervision, except in life-threatening emergencies.

General Medical Council Tribunal Allegations

The regulatory proceedings encompass multiple accusations regarding clinical hygiene and subsequent statements made by the practitioner. Both bbc.com and yahoo.com documented that the General Medical Council alleged Dr Siddiqui examined two patients at the Community Health and Eyecare Ltd Clinic in Warrington on 7 August 2024 using contaminated gloves. A third patient allegedly faced the same exposure at the company’s Stockport clinic on 10 December 2024.

Beyond the glove allegations, the General Medical Council stated that the doctor collected used, non-sterile equipment to take home from the facilities. When challenged about the equipment and practices, Dr Siddiqui asserted that taking items home and using the gloves constituted normal practice at another branch, a claim investigators determined she knew was untrue. She also faced an accusation of dishonesty after allegedly characterizing the second contamination incident as an isolated event.

Tribunal Schedule and Supervision Restrictions

The fitness-to-practise panel will convene on 19 October to hear evidence on the charges, with proceedings expected to conclude on 2 November. Until the tribunal delivers its findings, the interim practice conditions restrict Dr Siddiqui from operating independently in any surgical capacity.

Dr Siddiqui had been carrying out minor operations on other patients prior to the incidents outlined.

bbc.com