NHS Borders soon rumbled fake psychiatrist

by DOUGLAS SHEPHERD

An unqualified doctor who used forged papers to land job after job in NHS trusts across the United Kingdom was fired after barely a month by NHS Borders following concerns over her practices in delivering treatment to psychiatric patients.

Zholia Alemi, now aged 60, managed to fool the General Medical Council and NHS managers by claiming she had obtained her qualifications after studying in New Zealand. She now faces a lengthy jail term following her conviction this week on 13 counts of fraud, three counts of obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception, two counts of forgery and two counts of using a false instrument.

The Iranian-born fraudster is estimated to have received £1.3 million in wages from the host of NHS posts she held including that very brief stay in the Scottish Borders.

Alemi was previously jailed for five years in 2017 on theft and fraud charges after she re-wrote the will of an 84-year-old widow and dementia sufferer in a bid to steal her victim's £1.3 million estate. After she was jailed, her false claims to be a fully qualified psychiatrist came to light.

The minute of a meeting of NHS Borders Board's Strategy & Performance Committee in December 2018 includes details of an update on Alemi which was given to Board members.

It states: "Dr Cliff Sharp updated the Committee in regard to the recent publicity concerning a bogus psychiatrist. He advised that NHS Borders had employed Ms Alemi from September to October 2003. Dr Sharp advised that he had been concerned about her practice and had terminated her contract and written to her locum agency about his concerns. 

"The General Medical Council (GMC) were aware as were the Mental Welfare Commission (MWC). Her patient notes were being reviewed to see if any patients she was involved with who may have been detained were detained illegally and treated illegally. Dr Sharp assured the Committee that NHS Borders psychiatric services worked in a dual way so that no-one was treated in an individual way, there were other staff present and several checks and balances built into the service provided."

Following the jury's verdict at Manchester Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday) Judge Hilary Manley remanded Alemi in custody and told her she will be sentenced at the same court on February 28. Judge Manley told her: "There is only one possible sentence and that will be a sentence of immediate custody of some substantial length."

She said it was a "deliberate and wicked deception" perpetrated against a number of health authorities. The judge said the deception allowed Alemi to work in positions which involved "potentially very vulnerable people over a long period of time" and described the offending as "very grave".

The judge made it clear that, before sentencing, she wanted to know "how it was this defendant was able to practise as long as she did, in so many positions". 

Specialist lawyers Thompson’s, Solicitors are planning legal action on behalf of patients who may have been treated by Alemi.

The firm's website explains how Alemi dropped out of medical school in her first year of study in New Zealand. Despite having no qualifications she registered as a Psychiatrist in the UK, falsely claiming to have a medical degree and worked in various parts of the UK for 22 years.

Thompson's state: "When Alemi's actions were uncovered, one health board - NHS Ayrshire and Arran - confirmed that she treated 395 adults while working as a locum for 18 months from 2007.

"Alemi also worked for other Scottish health boards. These include: 

• Greater Glasgow and Clyde where she worked between 2005 and 2006.
• NHS Tayside where Alemi was employed as a locum psychiatrist in 2009. 
• Alemi also worked for NHS Borders, NHS Highland and NHS Grampian.

"If you or a loved one has been treated by the bogus NHS Scotland psychiatrist Zholia Alemi or received a letter from your Health Board, it’s important you seek legal advice as you may have a claim for compensation."

Thompson's also carry a quote from mass litigation lawyer and partner Patrick McGuire who 'has years of experience dealing with cases of this type'.  

He said “The actions of Zholia Alemi are truly shocking. This fraudster and convicted criminal was allowed to practice as a NHS Psychiatrist for many years across Scotland while holding no qualifications.”

“During that time this fake doctor used her authority to change the treatment of extremely vulnerable patients. She used her position to commit patients to secure mental health units denying people their very liberty.”

“She used her position to dupe and endanger the lives of hundreds of vulnerable trusting Scots.” This disgraceful state of affairs will not go unanswered by the families affected. My team are at the early stages of preparing civil legal action on behalf of the patients Alemi conned and endangered. If you or a member of your family have been sent a letter by the health authorities concerning treatment by Zholia Alemi you can contact Thompsons Solicitors".