Scots doctor struck off for leaving busy A&E ward to have nap is given licence back

A Scots doctor who was struck off for going AWOL from a busy A&E ward to go for a nap has been handed her licence back after a court ruled her punishment was too unfair. Dr Raisah Sawati was found sleeping on the job when there were patients who needed to be seen.

After two hours of being missing, her colleagues found her snoozing on a bench in the female hospital changing room, with a blanket wrapped over her. At a Medical Practitioners Tribunal last year, a panel stripped 33-year-old Dr Sawati of her medical licence by removing her from the register.

However, a High Court judge quashed the decision and now the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service [MPTS] has U-turned on its ruling. Instead, at a new tribunal, the MPTS ruled Dr Sawati is to be suspended for six months.