A respected female GP killed herself at her £1million home just days after being arrested on suspicion of FRAUD, it emerged today.
Dr June Shazeela Allim’s lifeless body was found on Wednesday after her husband, Dr Henry White dialled 999.
Paramedics rushed to their sprawling £975,000 home in North Lindsey, Warks., at around 2pm but were unable to revive the 53-year-old and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious.
Dr Allim worked alongside her 55-year-old husband at the Budbrooke Medical Centre, in the posh Warwickshire village of Hampton Magna, four miles from Warwick.
Two weeks ago Warwickshire Police raided the surgery amid allegations of fraud and arrested Dr Allim who was later released on bail.
A post-mortem examination will be carried out later to establish the cause of death.
The surgery was closed on Wednesday afternoon but re-opened on Thursday with locum GPs taking over appointments.
Neighbours of the couple, who had been married for 28 years and had one grown-up daughter, yesterday speculated that Dr Allim killed herself after the pressure of the fraud investigation got too much to bear.
One resident, who did not want to be named, said: “It looks like she was under a lot of pressure and when the police got involved it just pushed her over the edge.
“Being a doctor she would have certainly known how to end her life efficiently.
“It’s very sad because she had her husband were very popular in the village.”
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed they were called to the home for a “medical emergency”.
A spokesman for Budbrooke Medical Centre, said: “It is with great sadness that we have been made aware that Dr Allim passed away.
“The practice manager is informing patients.”
A Warwickshire Police spokesman said: “Police are treating the death of a 53-year-old female in Norton Lindsey, Warwick, as unexplained.
“Warwickshire Police is supporting the NHS regarding an investigation into an allegation of fraud at Budbrook Medical Practice. The investigation is ongoing.
“A 53-year-old female from Warwick was questioned in connection with the investigation which is still ongoing. She was released on bail. ”
The surgery boasts on its website about being a “rural practice with a husband and wife partnership.”
It goes on: “We are proud of our longstanding personal relationships with our patients which allows us to provide a high quality of care to our existing patients and which we aim to provide to all of our new patients.”
The couple were also involved with a children’s home in Uganda and spent a lot of time abroad.
A spokesman for NHS England stressed that standards of care have not been compromised.
He said: “There is an ongoing investigation into Budbrooke Medical Centre in Warwickshire.
“The practice will remain open and patients should attend appointments they have made unless they are contacted by the practice.
“The practice remains responsible for the provision of services to patients.
“NHS England is the commissioner of that service and looks forward to working with the practice to ensure that patients continue to receive the primary medical services they require.
“Patients should contact the practice for appointments as usual.
“There is no evidence of any clinical issues and NHS England’s Associate Medical Director, Dr Francis Campbell reassured patients that while there will be a full investigation into all activities carried out at the practice, there is no suggestion that patients have received anything but a high standard of clinical care.”
Tragic Dr June Shazeela Allim was a trustee of the Ruwenzori Health and Education Foundation alongside her husband and their 24-year-old daughter Victoria White.
The Ugandan-based charity built clinics and provided medical training in the war-torn country.
On it’s website it boasts at helping “the relief of sickness an preservation of health among people permanently or temporarily in Africa and the advancement of education or these people in healthcare.”
The charity also claims to work towards “the advancement of education of children attending schools in Africa.”
A neighbour of the couple, who asked not to be named, said Dr Allim and her husband had been suspended from the practice several weeks ago.
He said: “I heard they were both suspended from the practice, although in relation to what I’m not sure.
“The wife had been at home more so I suppose that was why.
“Somebody told me he’d appeared at the practice a few days ago when he wasn’t supposed to be there.
“That was the last anyone saw of him.
“I’ve not seen him at the house for a few days, so I’m not sure where he is now.
“They kept themselves to themselves – when they put the gates in he said after a day at work they wanted to just spend time alone at the house.”
He added that the couple’s daughter, Victoria, had been employed as practice manager at the Budbrooke Clinic.
The man said locals had become aware of a problem when they saw emergency services at the house on Wednesday afternoon.
He said: “The first I knew of it was when an ambulance drove up to the house at about 2 pm on Wednesday.
“That attracted my attention and then shortly afterwards there was a procession of vehicles, including police cars.
“They stayed quite late and the last ones left about 10pm.
“The gates were left open overnight and then around lunchtime the next day they left, after which the gates were locked.
“To my knowledge they haven’t been back since.”
Today the gates at the couple’s home in rural home, called White House Farm, were secured from the outside with a padlock.
There appeared to be no-one at the large property, which sits at the end of a private drive.
She was a brilliant gp and will be sadly missed
She was a brilliant gp and a lovely person and will be sadly missed
Total shock to learn today of the sad demise of Dr.Allim. As patients of both doctors for the past 18 years we cannot speak highly enough of them both. The Medical Centre was run on totally professional lines, with care and consideration shown at every level, our thoughts are with Dr.White and his daughter Victoria.
A compassionate and caring doctor, a wife and mother who sadly has gone far too soon.