Dr Harbikramjit Chandok, 33, of Regents Park Medical Centre in Camden, is also accused of altering the patient's computer records after her death.

Dr Chandok admits to not visiting the patient and scheduling a later home visit, but denies unprofessionalism.

The hearing on the case has been adjourned until Tuesday.

Staff at the surgery became concerned when they received a request for a home visit from a 67-year-old woman, identified as Mrs A, on 14 June last year, counsel for the GMC, Lydia Barnfather, told the hearing.

She said the receptionist left messages and reminded Dr Chandok. Later the receptionist also called to check on Mrs A, who was "feeling unsteady".

'Altered' records

A call was also made from the surgery to confirm a home visit, which the GP claims he made. Despite messages Dr Chandok rescheduled the home visit for the next morning, which he did not keep, Ms Barnfather said.

The next day, by the time an outreach support officer reached Mrs A's house, she had died of a heart attack. The police then contacted the surgery, the counsel said.

Ms Barnfather said: "He altered by way of addition the computer records of Mrs A to cause them to read as if there had been a telephone conversation on the 14th and entered that the home visit could be delayed to the next day.

"Then, in the full knowledge that the patient had died, he scheduled the patient for a home visit at 6.00pm," she said.

An inquiry was launched soon after this alteration.

The GP is also accused of leaving the nurses inadequately supervised.

Diana Snell, who was a nurse there, told the hearing: "He would come in later, leave earlier, his patient list would be less patients."

She added that the pattern "got worse" and he tried to "intimidate" her when she complained to the Primary Care Trust.