A DISTINGUISHED doctor has been accused of inappropriately prescribing medication to a woman he was in a “close personal relationship” with.

A tribunal, due to start on September 9, will also enquire into the allegation that Dr David Hildick-Smith wrote prescriptions for the woman from a Royal Sussex County Hospital prescription pad.

The tribunal is held by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) and is set to conclude on September 20.

If the allegations are found proved at the tribunal, Dr Hildick-Smith can be sanctioned by the MPTS.

The allegation says: “The tribunal will inquire into the allegation that, on more than one occasion, Dr Hildick-Smith inappropriately prescribed medication to Ms A, with whom he was in a close personal relationship.

“It is further alleged that he failed to make adequate records of the treatment he provided to Ms A.

“It is also alleged that Dr Hildick-Smith, on more than one occasion, inappropriately wrote prescriptions for Ms A on a hospital prescription pad from the cardiac department at Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, when he knew that Ms A was not a patient at this hospital, had not been assessed at the hospital, and that writing the prescription on this prescription pad implied that he had issued the prescription in a work setting.

“It is further alleged that this conduct was dishonest.”

Dr Hildick-Smith has had a distinguished career in cardiology.

He is a professor of interventional cardiology and consultant cardiologist at the Sussex Cardiac Centre – the regional specialist unit.

Along with another cardiologist at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, he performed a “world first” heart procedure – saving the life of a patient.

In the procedure, the consultant cardiologist used a new extra-large stent in the heart of a patient who suffered a cardiac arrest at his home.

The allegation against Dr Hildick-Smith reflects what he is accused of at the start of the hearing.

The allegation may be amended as the hearing proceeds. It can also be amended when findings of fact are made by the tribunal.

Dr Hildick-Smith was contacted for comment.

The Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust was also contacted for comment but declined to offer a statement.