DHB: Accused doctor no longer with hospital

A Tauranga doctor who appeared in court this week to defend a drink-driving charge is no longer employed by Tauranga Hospital and was a trainee surgeon when she was stopped by police, the hospital board has revealed.
Lisa Catherine Edwards, 40, appeared in Tauranga District Court on Tuesday on a drink-driving charge.
Police allege Edwards produced a breath alcohol reading of 876 micrograms, more than twice the legal adult limit of 400mcg.
The court heard Edwards was stopped on Totara St, Mount Maunganui at 12.20am on July 30 last year. Edwards told the court she had drunk three standard glasses of red wine and two small glasses of port between 8.45pm and 12.10am at a Mount Maunganui bar.
She is now fighting the drink-driving allegations, claiming police failed to do their job properly.
Bay of Plenty District Health Board chief operating officer Phillip Balmer yesterday said Edwards no longer worked at Tauranga Hospital but confirmed she had worked there as a surgical registrar (trainee) from December 7, 2009 to December 12 last year.
"Dr Lisa Edwards formally left our employment on 12 December 2010; however she was not rostered for duty after August 23, 2010," he said.
Mr Balmer said Edwards was appointed to the health board by the College of Surgeons as a trainee and came to Tauranga Hospital from the Auckland District Health Board.
He said as a trainee, Edwards worked under full supervision in the area of general surgery.
Mr Balmer said as Edwards was no longer an employee of the Bay of Plenty District Health Board he would not comment on the organisation's view of her court appearance.
He said the organisation's code-of-conduct stated employees were required to ensure that the use of alcohol and other drugs did not affect their work.
"Staff are also required to avoid any activities, work or non-work, that may harm the reputation of our organisation," Mr Balmer said.
He also declined to comment on what action would have been taken against Edwards had she still been an employee of the health board.
Edwards is also vice-president for the New Zealand Resident Doctors Association (NZRDA).
A spokeswoman from the NZRDA refused to comment on the organisation's view of the case, or what would happen if Edwards was convicted.
"In terms of this incident, it was Lisa's to own. We have no further comment to make," she said.