Former Fairfield Hospital doctor suspended again following GMC tribunal review

When concerns are raised about a doctor’s ability, patients deserve a proper investigation. A former Fairfield General Hospital consultant has now been suspended for a further 12 months, after refusing to complete a performance assessment ordered by the GMC. The decision follows a GMC tribunal review after the doctor failed to complete a performance assessment requested as part of an investigation. 

This article will cover: 

• Why the doctor was referred to the GMC 
• Why the suspension has been extended 
• What the decision means for patient safety 
• What could happen next  
• What to do if you think you’ve been impacted 

Why was the doctor referred to the GMC? 

Dr Sunita Khambra was a consultant anaesthetist for the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Fairfield General Hospital in Bury. The trust referred Dr Khambra to the General Medical Council (GMC) after  colleagues raised concerns that her medical ability did not meet the standard expected of an independent consultant anaesthetist. A number of her colleagues raised these concerns during her employment. 

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust told the GMC that Dr Khambra  had needed ongoing supervision and said several performance issues had come up while she worked there. Dr Khambra disputed those concerns during the tribunal.  

Why has the suspension been extended? 

After the referral, the GMC opened an investigation and directed Dr Khambra to ordered a performance assessment. This was to help the GMC understand whether her clinical performance meets the expected standard for safe practice and whether further action is needed to protect patients. While the GMC expressed the importance of this assessment, Dr Khambra declined to take part.  

Because Dr Khambra refused, the GMC couldn’t properly assess her performance. At the latest review hearing, the tribunal found nothing had changed since her original suspension. At the latest review hearing the tribunal found that there had been no change since the original suspension was imposed. With concerns still unresolved, the tribunal extended her suspension by another 12 months to protect patients and keep public confidence in the profession. 

What does this mean for patients and public confidence? 

Patients deserve to feel safe when they receive medical care and they should have confidence that concerns about medical professionals are thoroughly investigated. In the case of Dr Sunita Khambra, the GMC couldn’t rule out a risk to patient safety without the assessment it had asked for. The suspension will be reviewed again in 2027. If the assessment is still not completed, the tribunal could consider a longer-term suspension. 

What to do if you think you’ve been impacted 

If you have concerns about medical care, we believe they deserve to be taken seriously. Patients and families deserve clear answers when treatment falls below expected standards or questions remain about the care they received.  Getting clear answers can help you understand what went wrong and move forward. In some cases, speaking to a specialist medical negligence solicitor can help you better understand your options and whether the care you received met acceptable standards. 

If you are worried about the care you or a loved one received, our team are here to listen and explain your options, in a free, no-obligation conversation. Talk to our medical negligence team today.