Visiting "professor" teaching sex therapy at Kingston University?

C. Smith-Byrne made this Freedom of Information request to Kingston University This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.

The request was successful.

C. Smith-Byrne

Dear Kingston University,

Could you please confirm that the following individual is legally permitted to use the title "professor" and is employed as such by Kingston University:

"Prof Tony Baker, Consultant in psychiatry at Ashwood, visiting professor, Kingston University"

since this gentleman has asked a national newspaper, the Guardian, to publish the above today, on 11th May 2011. I have been unable to find any evidence for his claim to this title, but can prove that this "professor" has

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Is Kingston University aware of the background of this self proclaimed ‘sex abuse therapist’, have any checks been made on him, and what kind of lectures does he contribute to the education of the nation? Which subjects does he teach, how often and when, in which department(s)?

What is Kingston University's understanding of "Ashwood"? And why does this individual use the youthful "Tony" instead of his real name, Dr Anthony William Baker, which would, come to think of it, add more credibility to his distinguished title? Under which name is he registered on your payroll?

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I look forward to your response.

Yours faithfully,

C. Smith-Byrne

C. Smith-Byrne

Dear Kingston University,

Could you please explain why this "doctor" is employed as a "professor" with your university although the GMC website tells us that he is not even on their Specialist Register? Very weird indeed.

GMC Reference Number
2209887
Given Names
Anthony William
Surname
Baker
Gender
Man
Primary Medical Qualification
MRCS 1974 Royal College of Surgeons of England
LRCP 1974 Royal College of Physicians of London
MB BS 1974 University of London
Provisional Registration Date
20 Nov 1974
Full Registration Date
08 Jan 1976
Specialist Register
This doctor is not on the Specialist Register
GP Register
This doctor is not on the GP Register
Status
Registered with a licence to practise
Information for Employers
Substantive, honorary and fixed term consultants working in the NHS are required to be on the Specialist Register, however there are exemptions. Please refer to the National Health Service (Appointment of Consultants) Regulations 1996, as amended.
Doctors working in general practice in the UK health service are required to be on the General Practitioner Register. Please refer to the NHS (Performers Lists) Regulations 2004, as amended.
Annual retention fee due date: 08 Jan 2012

Doctor History
Fitness to practise history since 20 October 2005

From To Status
22 Nov 2008 21 Dec 2008 Suspended

Registration and licensing history since 20 October 2005

From To Status
16 Nov 2009 Registered with a licence to practise
21 Dec 2008 16 Nov 2009 Registered
22 Nov 2008 21 Dec 2008 Suspended
20 Oct 2005 22 Nov 2008 Registered

GMC Hearings

Date Panel
23 Oct 2008 Fitness to Practise Panel

Yours faithfully,

C. Smith-Byrne

Laughlan, Gail A, Kingston University

Dear C. Smith-Byrne,

 

Further to your recent request for information the University’s response
to your information request follows.

 

Q. Is the following individual legally permitted to use the title
professor and is he employed as such by the University?

 

Dr Anthony Baker was appointed as a visiting professor at Kingston
University for one year from February 2010 to February 2011. At the
current time Dr Baker is not under contract to the University and the
title of ‘visiting professor’ is no longer accurate in relation to
Kingston University.

 

Q. Is Kingston University aware of the background of this self proclaimed
‘sex abuse therapist’, have any checks been made on him,  what kind of
lectures does he contribute, which subjects does he teach, how often and
when, in which department(s)?

 

In 2010 the Bar Council was looking to develop a training package for
lawyers and Dr Baker was made a visiting professor by the University to
facilitate this work. The University was unaware that Dr Baker had been
investigated by the General Medical Council (this is not the kind of
information that the University would routinely request from its visiting
professors).

 

Visiting professors work on a contractual basis and are therefore not on
the University payroll. Dr Baker’s role was primarily advisory, although
he did, on a handful of occasions, deliver lectures to a group of
postgraduate students.

 

Q. What is Kingston University's understanding of "Ashwood"?

 

The University holds no information relating to ‘Ashwood’.

 

Q. Why does this individual use the youthful "Tony" instead of his real
name, Dr Anthony William Baker, which would, come to think of it, add more
credibility to his distinguished title? Under which name is he registered
on your payroll?

 

As a visiting professor, Dr Baker was not on the University payroll.

 

This completes the University’s response to your information request. If
you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision
please contact:

 

Head of Secretariat, Kingston University, River House, 53-57 High Street,
Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1LQ.

 

In the event that you are not content with the outcome of your complaint
you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision.
Generally, the Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

 

The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

 

 

Kind regards

 

Gail Laughlan

Copyright Officer, Information Services

Tel: +44 (0)20 8417 2090

Ext: 62090

 

Kingston University London

 

[1]http://www.kingston.ac.uk/

 

show quoted sections

Laughlan, Gail A, Kingston University

Dear C. Smith-Byrne,

 

Further to your recent request for information, the University's response
follows.

 

Q. Could you please explain why this "doctor" is employed as a "professor"
with your university although the GMC website tells us that he is not even
on their Specialist Register?

 

A. Registration on the General Medical Council Specialist Register is not
a requirement for the appointment of visiting professors at the
University. Dr Anthony Baker was appointed as a visiting professor at
Kingston University for one year from February 2010 to February 2011. He
is no longer under contract to the University.

 

This completes the University's response to your information request. If
you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision
please contact:

 

Head of Secretariat, Kingston University, River House, 53-57 High Street,
Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1LQ.

 

In the event that you are not content with the outcome of your complaint
you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision.
Generally, the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you
have exhausted the internal procedure provided by Kingston University. The
Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

 

The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

 

Kind regards

 

Gail Laughlan

Copyright Officer, Information Services

Tel: +44 (0)20 8417 2090

Ext: 62090

 

Kingston University London

 

http://www.kingston.ac.uk/

 

 

show quoted sections

C. Smith-Byrne

Dear Laughlan, Gail A,

Many thanks for your reply which gives a good overview over the background of appointing "professors" to universities (this obviously does not only apply to Kingston University) and explains why

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Yours sincerely,

C. Smith-Byrne

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