Bristol doctor fined for speeding in emergency

A Bristol doctor caught by a speed camera going 6mph above the limit as he rushed to answer an emergency call had his appeal against a ticket thrown out by police.

Consultant obstetrician Sherif Abdel-Fattah was told his 5am journey to Southmead Hospital, where a mother was suffering "massive bleeding" during an emergency caesarean section operation, did not meet the criteria for a medical emergency exemption.

This was despite a letter from North Bristol NHS Trust stating that he was "attending in response to an extremely urgent and life-threatening situation that required his expertise without delay".

Yesterday, after the Bristol Evening Post contacted them to ask for an explanation, Avon and Somerset police said they had had a change of heart and the prosecution was being dropped.

During the 5am drive from his home near Frenchay to the hospital, Dr Abdel-Fattah went through a speed camera on Gloucester Road North between Filton and Horfield, travelling at 36mph in a 30mph zone.

He made it into the operating theatre and helped control the woman's bleeding and stabilise her condition after almost two hours.

Two days after the operation on August 21, Dr Abdel-Fattah received a notice of intended prosecution from Avon and Somerset Police, giving him the choice of three points and a £60 fine or to attend a driving course and pay the same in costs.

The 47-year-old sent a letter explaining the circumstances, with an accompanying letter from the hospital confirming the details, but was informed that he did not meet the criteria for a medical emergency exemption. He appealed the decision but it was rejected.

Dr Abdel-Fattah said: "I was called by the midwife at 5am on August 21 and told that someone had haemorrhaged during a caesarean section. There was very, very massive bleeding and I was asked to come quickly. It was a very real emergency."

The Post contacted Avon and Somerset Police to raise Dr Abdel-Fattah's case. The force said a decision not to take further action had been made yesterday.

Police spokeswoman Sian Davies said: "A doctor en route to perform an emergency, life-saving, procedure is one such occasion which would require further consideration, and police will be taking no further action against this individual."