A Syrian doctor has been struck off the medical register for falsely prescribing painkillers and antibiotics for family members while working at the Whittington Hospital.

Dr Al Dairi wrote five prescriptions for his mother and brother who were not in the country at the time, a medical tribunal heard.

A further three prescriptions were written in the names of other family members at the same address.

The incidents occurred between November 2010 and August 2011 while he was working in the urology department at the hospital in Magdala Avenue, Highgate.

A panel from the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) also found he lied about getting approval from the General Medical Council (GMC) to issue the prescriptions.

Chair of the panel, Professor Timothy Hendra, described his actions as “deplorable”.

Mr and Ms Patel – two of the pharmacists visited by Dr Dairi - brought the matter to the attention of the GMC and gave evidence during the hearing.

Drugs prescribed included tramadol, co-amoxiclav and co-codamol.

Prof Timothy Hendra said: “Dr Al Dairi’s dishonesty in presenting prescriptions in the names of family members who were not in the country is regarded by the panel as deplorable. Furthermore, falsely claiming approval from the GMC as justification for these actions is totally unacceptable.”

He added: “The panel finds that Dr Al Dairi has breached fundamental tenets of the profession, has brought the profession into disrepute, has acted dishonestly, and that he is likely to do so again.

“Dr Al Dairi has shown no insight into his dishonesty. On balance the Panel has determined that his reckless defiance of GMC Guidelines and continued dishonesty, coupled with his marked lack of insight are all factors that are not compatible with continued registration as a doctor.”