Whistleblowing doc '˜astounded' by sack

Dr Stephen Frost, who campaigned for a full inquest into the death of weapons expert David Kelly, said he received an email in September 2013 telling him not to return to work at Weeton Barracks, after he had raised concerns about an incorrect prescription given to an Army veteran.

Dr Frost, 69, said he had been on annual leave when he received the message from agency the Castlerock Recruitment Group.

He said: “I was totally confused but I was also astounded because I was given no reason and also there had been no due process.”

The GP, who had worked for the MoD since 1996, compared his position to that of character Josef K in Frank Kafka’s novel The Trial, who is arrested despite maintaining his innocence.

He said: “I was in an even worse position than Josef K.”

He added: “I didn’t even know I was under threat.”

The tribunal, at Alexandra House in Manchester, heard Dr Frost had raised concerns with colleagues about the possibility of criminal activity after discovering a patient may have been given morphine sulphate which was six times the strength of his usual dose.

Under cross-examination by Ashley Serr, counsel for the MoD, Dr Frost said he had no knowledge of formal whistleblowing policies at the time.

He said: “Maybe I was naive.”

Dr Frost, of Pen-y-Bryn Road, Colwyn Bay, told the tribunal he had an “unblemished record” before he was sacked.

The MoD claims Dr Frost was dismissed for failing to highlight the error to the patient.

The tribunal, at Alexandra House in Manchester, is expected to continue until next Thursday.