Dr Aung Tint – “an accomplished consultant” was banned for a year in 2024 for moonlighting
St Nicholas’ Hospital in Gosforth is among services operated by the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust.(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
An NHS consultant banned for moonlighting at NHS trusts including in the North East has had his suspension revoked after eleven months. Dr Aung Tint was suspended from the medical register after a tribunal hearing in December 2024 – he had admitted working remotely for two NHS trusts at the same time.
Dr Tint, who was employed in Preston, Newcastle upon Tyne and Manchester, admitted an allegation related to “matters of dishonesty”. The full allegation found that he worked remotely for two NHS mental health trusts and received payment from both for working concurrent sessions between March 2020 and April 2021.
The full allegation – admitted in 2024 – continued: “It is alleged that Dr Tint’s actions prevented him from being readily accessible to patients and/or colleagues and put patient safety at avoidable risk. It is further alleged that, on 23 November 2020, Dr Tint underwent an NHS appraisal and failed to declare the full scope of his practice.
“It is also alleged that in 2021, Dr Tint failed to inform his employer that he had been suspended by his designated body despite knowing that this was a condition of his employment. It is alleged that Dr Tint’s actions as set out above were dishonest.”
A review of Dr Tint’s case found he had admitted the allegations but that since then had made significant effort to make amends. The review – conducted “on the papers” at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) by legally qualified chair Claire Lindley found that risk of Dr Tint repeating his actions was “extremely low”.
In Ms Lindley’s ruling, she wrote: “I have firstly taken into account the determination of the previous Tribunal. The suspension was imposed because Dr Tint’s actions were dishonest and marked a serious departure from [good medical practise].. It decided that a period of suspension was necessary to ensure public confidence in the profession, and to uphold professional standards.
“The Tribunal, however, noted that Dr Tint fully cooperated with the [General Medical Council] investigation and during the regulatory proceedings, and made admissions to the bulk of the matters listed on the Allegation. The Tribunal decided that Dr Tint had ‘excellent insight into his misconduct’ and was satisfied that his expressions of remorse were genuine.
“It was also impressed with the efforts that Dr Tint had taken to remediate his misconduct. The Tribunal was satisfied that the risk of repetition of the misconduct was ‘extremely low’. I have also taken into account that since the order of suspension was made, Dr Tint has taken a number of steps to keep his medical knowledge and skills up to date, and to further remediate his misconduct.”
Ms Lindley found that these steps included finding a consultant psychiatrist able to act as a supervisor – though he was not able to find a clinical attachment to maintain his work – and carrying out almost eighty hours of training while suspended. He also attended a medical ethics course and “has further reflected on his misconduct”, she found.
The reviewer added: ” I accept from Dr Tint’s CV that he is an accomplished consultant, and from his letters of support that he is a good doctor. I have decided therefore that Dr Tint’s fitness to practise is no longer impaired.
“In light of my decision, I direct that Dr Tint’s current period of suspended registration be revoked with immediate effect. I have, at all times, borne in mind the statutory overarching objective which is to protect, promote and maintain the health, safety and well-being of the public, to promote and maintain public confidence in the medical profession, and to promote and maintain proper professional standards and conduct for the medical profession.”
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