Senior NHS Anaesthetist Suspended for Falling Asleep During Surgery

Dr. Thomas Herbst, previously warned for similar conduct, faces six-month suspension and a review hearing later in the year.

Dr. Thomas Herbst, a senior NHS anaesthetist, fell asleep during a shoulder arthroscopy procedure at the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre.
This is not the first time Dr. Herbst has been reprimanded for similar conduct; he received a warning from the General Medical Council (GMC) in 2020 for falling asleep during an operation.
After being awoken, Dr. Herbst was reportedly incoherent and struggled with simple tasks, such as filling out a timesheet.
Dr. Herbst justified his condition by claiming exhaustion from working late on his tax returns and feeling unwell, but chose to work to avoid cancelling patient surgeries.
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) found Dr. Herbst guilty of serious professional misconduct and suspended him from practice for six months, with a review hearing scheduled for later in the year.