A GP working in Bethnal Green profited from private acupuncture sessions and medical research while pocketing NHS wages, a General Medical Council hearing was told yesterday.

Dr Vinod Kumar Dewan charged �15 for secret appointments at the Pollards Row Practice and was paid for reseach by City University while working as an NHS doctor for the Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust, it was said.

A receptionist, Zeba Begum, noticed he had blocked out time for “admin” on the practice’s computer system in August 2007 but went on to accept a patient for an appointment.

Practice manager Sheila Rogers investigated further and found Mr Dewan had been seeing this patient and another for acupuncture sessions.

Alexandra Felix of the GMC said Mr Dewan’s contract said private work should not be done without permission and the practice’s facilities should not be used without consent or payment.

Mr Dewan is not attending the central London hearing and is not represented.

He is accused of undertaking 13 private acupuncture sessions in 2007, carrying out private work while contracted to the NHS and of failing to account for fees from the university.

The hearing continues.