Pediatric radiologist Dr. Maria Klusmann stands accused of defrauding the U.K. taxpayer of 70,000 pounds (77,500 euros) by working at private clinics across London while she was on approved leave from University College London Hospital (UCLH), according to an article in the Daily Mail newspaper.
Klusmann allegedly worked at five different facilities between April 2014 and April 2016. The clinics were Highgate Private Hospital, Aspen Healthcare, HCA Healthcare, the Wellington Hospital, and Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth in St John's Wood, the Daily Mail reported.
"This is a case about money and greed," prosecuting lawyer Leila Gaskin told Blackfriars Crown Court. "The prosecution says the defendant was paid by the [National Health Service] NHS, but instead she chose to work elsewhere at exclusive private clinics."
"Senior doctors were able to see the defendant was not working at the times and places she was contracted to on numerous occasions," Gaskin explained. "She admitted no wrongdoing and did not alter her conduct. An internal investigation revealed extensive gaps when she was working for other private clinics when she should have been working for the NHS."
Klusmann has pleaded not guilty and denies any dishonesty, insisting much of her private work was during periods of leave from UCLH with the remainder of time paid back to the NHS.
