Fylde coast doctor could lose career after dodging prison for 'lying during bankruptcy claim'

A medical panel was this morning deciding what punishment to hand out to a Fylde coast doc.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Dr Kevin Ross dodged prison after being found guilty of lying about his working hours during a bankruptcy claim, but could now lose his career.

He was convicted last year of making a false statement and, then aged 45 and living in Station Road, St Annes, was handed a three-month suspended jail term and ordered to pay £5,000 costs within a year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The family doctor had signed a record of an interview declaring he worked eight hours a week, earning around £800, and said it was the minimum required to maintain his professional status, Preston's Sessions House Court was told.

Dr Kevin Ross (Picture: The Gazette archive)Dr Kevin Ross (Picture: The Gazette archive)
Dr Kevin Ross (Picture: The Gazette archive)

Despite claiming the information was "true to the best of his knowledge and belief", records showed he worked 124 hours one month and 176 another, the court was also told.

A panel from the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service launched a three-day hearing in Manchester this morning, and was due to "inquire into the allegation" that Dr Ross was convicted, documents showed.

But the facts were "admitted and found proved" prior to it starting, papers released to the media earlier today showed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The panel could now impose conditions that restrict Dr Ross's ability to practise medicine, suspend him for a maximum of one year, or strike him off the register entirely.

But it could also decide to take no further action.

Dr Ross, who qualified at the University of Nottingham in 1997, denied the charge of knowingly and wilfully making a false declaration but did not give evidence at his trial.

There are “real obligations” placed on those declaring bankruptcy and a duty to be “full and frank” so official receivers can make proper enquiries and properly scrutinise the information so the circumstances can be properly understood, the court heard.

Prosecutor Louise Cowan said Dr Ross’s statement was “palpably untrue”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She said: "Kevin Ross is a doctor. He must understand the importance of the careful analysis of documents and he had signed the note following the interview as a true and accurate record of that interview.

"He knew the significance of that statement. He was given time to consider, correct it, amend it - but he has signed it as being true and accurate."

Defending, Bruce Stuart said: "This case is based on a complete misconception of what the law actually is."

He suggested an insolvency worker who gave evidence in the trial was not credible because she didn't have a clear recollection of his interview.