An unqualified doctor who performed an emergency Caesarean section on a woman leaving her in intensive care has been struck off.

Dr David Nzegbulem spent two days at Watford General Hospital as a locum specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology in November 2015.

During this time, he carried out a C-section which put “both her and her child’s life at risk”, despite him not having the “appropriate experience”, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service said.

The tribunal report states Dr Nzegbulem “knowingly took on a post” for which he was not qualified.

On November 10, he performed a category one C-section but made an incision that was too low. A doctor, who took over, said “multiple bleeding points, and tears to the uterus at the corners of where the initial incision had been made, and the repair was inadequate".

Borehamwood Times:

Dr Nzegbulem, who was not present or represented at the hearing, has limited experience in obstetrics and gynaecology, obtained between 1993 to 1995 as a senior house officer, and on or around January 1 2015 and November 9 2015.

He qualified in 1991 and primarily worked as a GP.

When he carried the C-section out on the patient at Watford General, she was transferred to the intensive care unit twice and the report states she still has ongoing problems.

Dr Nzegbulem was suspended from the Medical Performers List in 2016 but it is alleged he undertook two further locum GP placements – neither of which were in our area.

The tribunal concluded that Dr Nzegbulem be erased from the Medical Register.

Borehamwood Times:

Medical director at West Herts Hospital Trust, Mike van der Watt, said: “Dr David Nzegbulem worked for the trust for just two days. All the usual pre-employment checks were carried out before his appointment.

"These included a review of the professional references supplied by his locum agency.

"As a result of this incident, we have reviewed and strengthened our recruitment processes so that only substantive consultants interview and appoint locums. In addition, the appointing consultant agrees with the locum which procedures they can perform. 

“It should be noted that the trust’s rapid actions in contacting the General Medical Council (GMC) and NHS England – once the incident came to light – were commended by the GMC.”