- Doctor’s Former Company Failed to Report Serious Incidents
- He is a discredited psychiatrist
- Now holds a top position as clinical director of mental health care
EXCLUSIVE
A British doctor who locked a patient in his hospital room for weeks and was banned from working in the UK has landed a top job in northern New South Wales.
Dr Richard Seamark’s “horrific” history was made public in 2017 after he was nominated for a top $400,000 position as clinical director of mental health at Cairns Hospital in Far North Queensland.
However, the 64-year-old discredited psychiatrist was quickly removed from the application process when it emerged he had been disqualified as a director of a UK company.
The ban came after his UK company Care+ Ltd. failed to report serious incidents and used medical equipment that had expired.
There were multiple complaints about the quality of care he provided when he was running the company, including making mistakes with medications and locking a patient in his room for weeks.
He was branded a ‘shady psychiatrist’ by the UK Insolvency Service after he was suspended for endangering patient safety, with his behaviour described as ‘appalling’.
Robert Clarke, head of Insolvent Investigations North, added at the time: ‘Dr Seamark’s failure to adequately safeguard the welfare and safety of patients posed a significant risk to vulnerable patients, staff and the public.
“His disqualification sends a clear message that such appalling behaviour will not be tolerated in the context of the wider business community.”
Despite the damning report, Seamark now holds a position as clinical director of the Richmond Clarence Mental Health Service in Lismore.
Dr Richard Seamark has been appointed Clinical Director of the Richmond Clarence Mental Health Service in Lismore
His position is part of the Northern NSW Local Health District in Lismore
In a video posted 12 months ago by Northern NSW Local Health District, he spoke highly of his new home and the team at his new workplace.
“It’s a wonderful place to work,” he said.
‘The weather is physically extraordinary and offers you a huge range of different options to adapt your lifestyle.
‘Within our area of operation we just have a really nice group of people to work with and you will enjoy the day-to-day experience.’
In its report on its defunct company, the government agency revealed that a patient had been locked in his hospital room for several weeks, describing the incident as a “violation of the patient’s human rights.”
The hospital also failed to report serious incidents, such as medication errors, and kept defibrillator electrodes that were more than seven years past their expiration date.
The damning investigation concluded that one of the hospitals was “deficient in every area inspected” and published a scathing assessment of Dr Seamark’s leadership.
Seamark was turned down for the role at Cairns Hospital in 2017 after recruiters were given details of the bankruptcy of his UK company.
“There was no talk of bankruptcy proceedings,” Health Minister Steven Miles, the current Premier of Queensland, said at the time.
“When they did, he made that known and that was the point at which the trial was adjourned. Let’s not get too caught up in what happened.”
Seamark reportedly moved to Queensland in 2015 after being disqualified as a director of his UK company, which subsequently went into voluntary liquidation.
Before applying for the position in Cairns, he worked at the Sunshine Coast Hospital for 18 months, despite an 18-month ban in the UK for ‘endangering patient safety’
NSW Health insisted it followed standard procedure in recruiting Seamark for his latest role at Lismore.
“Recruitment for vacancies within Northern NSW Local Health District is conducted in accordance with NSW Health policy,” a spokesperson said.
‘This includes mandatory pre-employment screening and, for clinical roles, confirmation of registration with the relevant authority or medical board.’