Darlington GP Dr Michael Farrell who drank on job can return to work

Dr Michael Farrell was handed a six-month ban in February after he admitted to drinking wine from a coffee cup while working as a GP.

He was also found to have left his practice on one or more occasion without informing anyone while on duty, meaning his scheduled appointments had to be reassigned to other doctors.

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On Thursday (August 3) he was told by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MTPS) he can now return to work after his ban expired.

He was working at Parkgate Medical Practice in Darlington at the time on April 15, 2021.

Parkgate Medical Centre in Darlington. (Image: GOOGLE)

The incident happened just weeks after a Dr Farrel had a previous two-month suspension revoked after he was handed a 12-week suspended prison sentence for failing to give a blood sample when pulled for drink driving.

During the February MPTS hearing Dr Farell admitted to drinking at work but claimed he had resigned and was not due to be working on the afternoon he left the practice, despite patients being assigned to his calendar.

The tribunal heard how the practice’s office manager found bottles in Farrell’s room which he believed smelled of vodka.

The February panel, chaired by Mr Gerry Wareham, concluded Dr Farrell had committed a “serious breach of good medical practice”.

At a review on Thursday to decide on Dr Farrell’s future it was ruled his fitness to practice was no longer impaired.

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He will now be able to return to work in medicine if he wishes.

The doctor submitted a statement reflecting on his actions which the panel said, “which sets out his appreciation of the impact of his actions, remedial actions and coping strategy as well as efforts undertaken to ensure he has maintained his clinical knowledge.

“He has accepted responsibility for his misconduct and shown that he appreciates how it could undermine the public’s trust in the medical profession and be detrimental to its reputation.”