NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

'Serious concerns' raised over alleged health worker fraud

NZME.
26 Jul, 2015 09:52 PM6 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Minister of Health Dr Jonathan Coleman is meeting with the Director-General of Health to discuss the matter. Photo / File

Minister of Health Dr Jonathan Coleman is meeting with the Director-General of Health to discuss the matter. Photo / File

The Minister for Health says he has serious concerns after a health board staffer working as a psychiatrist was fired and arrested for possible identity fraud.

The Waikato District Health Board (DHB) said it had identified "serious issues of potential identity fraud" and a man who'd been working as a consultant psychiatrist appeared in court on Saturday on a fraud charge.

The man's patients included people with mental health and addiction issues.

DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE? SEND US AN EMAIL

Minister of Health Dr Jonathan Coleman said he would meet the Director-General of Health tomorrow to discuss the mater.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I am also seeking assurance from both the Waikato DHB and the Medical Council of New Zealand over the recruitment process they followed in employing this individual," Dr Coleman said in a statement this afternoon.

The individual involved was stood down after his supervisor raised concerns over his competence and performance.

The man was under the supervision of a senior psychiatrist while working at the DHB but he saw some patients without supervision.

"The supervisor raised concerns about their professional ability, ultimately withdrawing supervision, which resulted in immediate withdrawal of the person's ability to practise," Waikato DHB chief executive Dr Nigel Murray said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Waikato DHB said it was now contacting about 25 patients the man saw during his tenure at the health board.

The DHB said it and the Medical Council of New Zealand identified concerns about the documents the man presented - which may have belonged to someone else.

"As these enquiries raised serious issues of potential identity fraud, this person is no longer employed by the Waikato District Health Board and is unable to carry out medical duties in New Zealand," the DHB said today.

The man was given name suppression at Hamilton District Court and remanded in custody.

Discover more

New Zealand

Organ donation series: Faces at the front line

25 Jul 08:40 PM
New Zealand

Kiwis skip overseas for hospital treatment

26 Jul 03:35 AM
New Zealand

Leaked document proposes health overhaul

26 Jul 10:51 PM
New Zealand

Inspection following psychiatrist's alleged fraud

27 Jul 03:28 AM

The man worked in the crisis, triage and home-based treatment services.

"These services are responsible for triaging all contacts with mental health services and directing them to the service best placed to meet their needs. This person worked within a multi-disciplinary context and usually saw patients in the company of another member of staff," the DHB said.

"We are extremely concerned and our first priority is for the safety of our patients and their families. The information to date has not identified any harm to patients and we will continue to assess the situation" Dr Murray said.

"Whilst most patients seen by this person have subsequently been reviewed and are receiving appropriate care and treatment we have identified approximately 25 patients who have not been further followed up," he added. "Each patient will be offered follow-up services as soon as possible."

The health board said it carried out checks on the man's credentials and information available to the DHB and the Medical Council "verified the person's qualifications and ability to practice in New Zealand."

Now, both organisations said they would review their systems to strengthen their ability to identify potential fraud.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The DHB said patients seen by the triage, crisis or home-based treatment teams during this time who had concerns should call the Triage Service 0800 50 50 50 or email mentalhealth@waikatodhb.health.nz.

Waikato DHB's Q&A on the identity fraud case:

1. How long was this person working here?
Approximately six months

2. How could the DHB employ a doctor with uncertain credentials?
While all these checks were carried out in this instance, the two organisations will be reviewing their systems and processes to further strengthen them against fraud. Our Credentialling process includes checking all qualifications and certificate of good standing. We also require three references from professional colleagues. We check each reference verbally. We also accept applications from reputable employment agencies and require them to carry out a thorough due diligence. These documents are presented to the Electoral Committee for review before a job is offered. All positions are only offered subject to due diligence by the Medical Council of New Zealand.

3. What do you have in place to stop this happening again?
The systems are working well and this is how we were able to pick this person up. His designated supervisor is employed by Waikato DHB. The supervisor played a critical role in overseeing the person's practice and acted decisively in raising issues. As a result of these concerns his practise was suspended and a review of his credential were put in place. Never the less, in light of all these matters we will be continually reviewing and refining processes.

4. What checks are in place for a doctor to work at Waikato DHB?
We verify an applicant's academic and professional qualifications and their credentials to ensure that they have the legal right to work in NZ. The Medical Council carry out a thorough process of review as well and issue the annual practice certificate with the relevant scope of practice.

5. Was this process followed in this particular case?
We believe we did follow the right process that is currently in place but that is something that our own enquiries and the police investigation will need to confirm.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

6. How do you know that the DHB doesn't have any other doctors with uncertain credentials employed?
While we believe these processes are effective, we regularly refine and strengthen our processes regarding credentialing and privelaging of our doctors, particularly in light of the potential of identity fraud.

7. Has any patients have been harmed or harmed anyone else because of the person?
None that we are aware of but we are continuing to review the situation.

8. How many patients did this person see?
Mental Health care is provided by teams of mental health professionals, he was part of the team. There were approximately 25 patients who were not seen in this team environment which he saw.

9. If he was being supervised, how come he saw patients without supervision?
Psychiatrists working under supervision are not supervised all of the time. This person had regular meetings with his designated supervisor to discuss his work.

10. Can you assure the public that systems and processes are in place to protect the NZ population from fraudulant doctors practising here?
The Medical Council undertakes a wide range of checks before granting registration to any doctor. These include obtaining Certificates of Good Standing from overseas medical regulators, and sighting the doctor's original qualifications etc. The Council is reviewing this case to ensure all appropriate robust systems and processes are in place.

Source: Waikato DHB

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand|crime

Probe into man who abused girl as he read her stories led to another sinister finding

19 Jun 07:00 AM
New Zealand

'Cheeky grin': Family, school mourn 6yo victim of Pātea boat tragedy

19 Jun 06:30 AM
New Zealand

From top to bottom: Gisborne slumps to last on economic scoreboard, locals still optimistic

19 Jun 06:00 AM

Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Probe into man who abused girl as he read her stories led to another sinister finding

Probe into man who abused girl as he read her stories led to another sinister finding

19 Jun 07:00 AM

William Seddon had a collection of child abuse images, said to have led to the assaults.

'Cheeky grin': Family, school mourn 6yo victim of Pātea boat tragedy

'Cheeky grin': Family, school mourn 6yo victim of Pātea boat tragedy

19 Jun 06:30 AM
From top to bottom: Gisborne slumps to last on economic scoreboard, locals still optimistic

From top to bottom: Gisborne slumps to last on economic scoreboard, locals still optimistic

19 Jun 06:00 AM
Rotorua chef denies arson of his own home

Rotorua chef denies arson of his own home

19 Jun 06:00 AM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP