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

[extraneous and potential defamatory material removed]

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?

[extraneous and potential defamatory material removed]

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/

 

-----Original Message-----

From: C. Smith-Byrne [mailto:[FOI #71231 email]]

Sent: 11 May 2011 21:58

To: FOI requests at Kingston University

Subject: Freedom of Information request - Visiting "professor" teaching
sex therapy at Kingston University?

 

     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 had at least two previous misconduct hearings

     in front of the Fitness to Practise Panel of the General Medical

     Council because of his unhealthy interest in vulnerable young women

     - the man is over 60 but prefers 15-year-olds -, i.e. molesting and

     kissing teenage patients (ex-rape victims) and inviting them over

     to spend the night in his house. He was struck off temporarily in

     2009, but is now obviously back on the road to wealth and fame. I

     would hereby like to refer to my previous FOI request

    

    
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/se...

     which contains more links.

    

     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?

    

    
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/m...

    

     I look forward to your response.

    

     Yours faithfully,

    

     C. Smith-Byrne

    

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     Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

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References

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

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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/

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: C. Smith-Byrne [mailto:[FOI #71231 email]]
Sent: 28 May 2011 23:37
To: FOI requests at Kingston University
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - Visiting "professor"
teaching sex therapy at Kingston University?

 

     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

    

    

    

     -------------------------------------------------------------------

     Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be

     published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

     http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offic...

    

     Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

     [FOI #71231 email]

    

     If you find WhatDoTheyKnow useful as an FOI officer, please ask

     your web manager to suggest us on your organisation's FOI page.

     -------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

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Security System.

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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

[extraneous and potential defamatory material removed]

Yours sincerely,

C. Smith-Byrne

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