Woman GP guilty of secret affair with patient

A GP embroiled in a sex and surveillance scandal at a surgery was today found guilty of having a secret two-year affair with a patient.

Dr Yvonne Hunniford, 46, embarked on a sexual relationship with the 54-year-old builder after he registered at the Sussex practice where she worked.

Shocked colleagues watched the doctor fondle and flirt with her lover, known as Mr B, after inviting him to office parties and dinners. The GMC heard the pair were also seen enjoying romantic dinners by concerned co-workers and went away for a "dirty weekend".

The GP, who described herself as " bashful", even boasted to colleagues of having sex with Mr B over a kitchen table.

Dr Hunniford was found to have carried on a "personal, emotional and sexual" relationship with Mr B. She also compromised patient confidentiality in her bid to secure her secret partner a council home.

The family doctor was cleared previously of bugging a colleague's office after she was asked to help a jealous health visitor, Miss P, to eavesdrop on another GP at the surgery who had ditched her. Dr Hunniford was a close friend of Miss P, who faced disciplinary proceedings after her doomed affair with the doctor, Jeremy Stupple.

A transmitter was found behind a consulting room filling cabinet when the offices were swept for bugs in February, 2003.

Dr Hunniford, who qualified in Dublin and trained in Belfast, was one of five partners at the Cathedral Medical Group, at the Medical Centre, Cawley Road, Chichester-She denied having sex Mr B and said he was "just a good friend" who carried out building work on her home and escorted her to social functions.

Dr Hunniford said Mr B also helped her when she became embroiled in a bitter break-up with her fiancé ©n 2001.

Mr B had admitted staying at Dr Hunniford's home but said he slept on her couch. But the pair both admitted their 10-year friendship became sexual when they had a three-week fling after Mr B stopped being her patient in May 2003.

Lynn Griffin, for the GMC, said the GP was seen slow-dancing with Mr B and fondling his private parts and buttocks at the Royal Norfolk Hotel, Bognor Regis, in December 2001. But Dr Hunniford claimed a varicose vein operation on her right leg meant she could only dance slowly.

Dr Hunniford and Mr B were also allegedly caught in bed together when Miss P sleepwalked naked into her bedroom and tried to get into bed with them after a boozy night out.

The conduct committee rejected Dr Hunniford's claims and found her actions were "improper, inappropriate and not in the best interests of the doctor-patient relationship". They will now consider whether she is guilty of serious professional misconduct, which she denies.

Dr Hunniford, of Chichester, could be struck off or suspended if found guilty.