North East surgery where poison plot GP worked checked records to see if patients had been affected
The Happy House surgery says it's satisfied doctor convicted of trying to kill his mother's partner posed no threat to his patients
by Sophie Doughty · ChronicleLiveThe surgery where poison plot GP Dr Thomas Kwan worked checked all its records after the shamed medic's plan to kill his mum's partner came to light.
Kwan is today awaiting sentence after he sensationally admitted attempting to murder Patrick O'Hara by giving him a fake Covid jab containing a flesh-eating toxin, while disguised as a nurse.
The doctor had worked at Happy House Surgery, in Sunderland, until his arrest in February. Now the practice has confirmed that it carried out its own investigation as soon as the allegations emerged. And the surgery has confirmed that after an audit of records it was satisfied that Kwan was never a threat to his patients.
A spokesman for Happy House Surgery said: "Dr Kwan left the practice following his arrest. Once Dr Kwan was arrested, we carried out an audit of our practice records. We are satisfied that this was an unrelated, personal matter and at no point did Dr Kwan pose a threat to any of our patients at Happy House."
Kwan pleaded guilty to attempted murder as he stood trial at Newcastle Crown Court. Jurors heard how the GP spent months meticulously planning his audacious plot to target Mr O’Hara, who he saw as an obstacle to receiving his inheritance should anything happen to his mum. After tricking his 71-year-old victim, with faked NHS letters, into believing a community nurse would be coming to his home to give him a Covid booster jab, Kwan donned a disguise, which included a wig, fake facial hair and a mask and went to the home himself.
Once inside the property, on St Thomas Street in Newcastle City Centre, Kwan injected Mr O’Hara with a substance that caused a flesh-eating disease and left him needing surgery and in intensive care for weeks.
Police traced Kwan on CCTV leaving his mother’s home, heading back to the hotel then eventually home, having stopped for something to eat at Greggs. When he was arrested his home, in Ingleby Barwick, Stockton, was searched. Officers found an array of toxic, corrosive, hazardous or flammable chemicals including liquid mercury, thallium, sulphuric acid and arsenic, in a detached garage at the premises.
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It is still unclear exactly what Mr O’Hara was injected with. Kwan later said it was iodomethane, which is sometimes called methyl iodide and is commonly called “Mel”, which is used predominantly as a fumigant pesticide, the court was told
Police also recovered various items from a hard drive at Kwan’s home, including a video about how to produce iodomethane, a PDF copy of police guidance on murder investigations and a fake ID document showing Kwan in disguise.
Kwan, 53, of Brading Court, Ingleby Barwick, who had previously pleaded guilty to administering a noxious substance, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced later this month.
The General Medical Council (GMC) has confirmed that Kwan, who qualified in 1996, is currently suspended pending the conclusion of a full GMC investigation.
A spokeswoman said: "He was given a suspension in February 2024 by an independent medical tribunal (IOT) at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service. This means he has been unable to treat patients since that date.
"Dr Kwan will be referred to a Medical practitioners tribunal following his sentencing. When a doctor is convicted of a serious offence the matter is referred to a Medical practitioners tribunal for a full hearing."