A GP has admitted perverting the course of justice by failing to provide evidence into the death of an elderly woman.
Nigel Palmer, a doctor at the Park Grove surgery, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to hiding a message book, which had been ordered to be produced at the inquest into the death of 82-year-old Eileen Gill in June.
Surgery receptionist Nancy Wainwright also pleaded guilty at Sheffield Crown Court to concealing the existence of the message book.
The inquest into Mrs Gill’s death in a house fire was halted by coroner Chris Dorries over concerns about evidence.
At the inquest, Palmer told the coroner that he had examined Mrs Gill and concluded she was “a potential danger to herself”.
The inquest heard that Palmer asked a district nurse to visit Mrs Gill, but the elderly woman did not answer the door and the missed appointment was never followed up.
The coroner told the doctor that social services tried to contact him and left a message but Palmer told the inquest there was no record of a message.
Palmer and Wainwright were arrested and charged and Palmer was suspended by the General Medical Council.
Both were bailed until November 24 when they will be sentenced.
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