Doctor and Husband Jailed for Selling Stolen NHS PPE for £8,000

During the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, a doctor and her husband stole and sold personal protective equipment (PPE) from the NHS, making almost £8,000. The couple was jailed for 10 months each for their role in the offense. Attiya and Omer Sheikh admitted to resetting PPE that was the property of NHS Scotland between May 30 and October 7, 2020. The couple was sentenced on May 14, 2022, after returning to court for sentencing.

Key Takeaways:

• The couple made £7,827 selling PPE, including medical gloves and masks, on eBay accounts.
• Police searched the couple's home in Thornliebank, East Renfrewshire, in October 2020 and found 121 boxes of PPE in an attic.
• The doctor, Attiya Sheikh, worked as a doctor at University Hospital Hairmyres in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, but has not worked for NHS Lanarkshire since 2020.
• Both the doctor and her husband have accepted full responsibility for their actions and acknowledged the breach of trust and potential impact on their professional colleagues and society.

Statistics:

• £7,827: The amount made by the couple selling PPE.
• 121: The number of boxes of PPE found in the couple's attic.
• 46: The age of Attiya Sheikh.
• 48: The age of Omer Sheikh.
• 5 years: The length of time Dr. Attiya Sheikh has lived with the shame of having betrayed the values that have guided her life.
• 12 months: The original sentence proposed by the court, reduced to 10 months due to the couple's early guilty pleas.

Sources:

• "Paisley Sheriff Court" - May unknown (Sheriff Court proceeding)
• "General Medical Council" - (Statement on Dr. Attiya Sheikh's registration)