Samuel Bhonsle was caught out while working at Queen Alexandra Hospital a General Medical Council panel heard.

The cremation forms asked whether a doctor involved in the patient's care before they died had been spoken to.

Bhonsle, from Waterloo- ville, who was paid £55 for each completed document, answered yes on five occasions on forms between April and September 2005 – but had never spoken to any of the medics.

The forms also asked for names of nurses or other doctors who cared for the patients before they died -– details Bhonsle consistently failed to document.

Chichester GP Robert Wilson blew the whistle after he caught Bhonsle cutting the same corners on two forms in March 2006.

He had previously written to Bhonsle – who did not attend the hearing – in November 2004 to stress the importance of filling out the forms correctly after Dr Harold Shipman signed off death certificates for people he had murdered.

Panel chairman Paddy Conway said: 'The panel has borne in mind that it has received no evidence of clinical incompetence on the part of Dr Bhonsle.

'The panel is satisfied that there are identifiable areas of Dr Bhonsle's practice which can be addressed, namely completion of and signing of cremation certificates.

'While Dr Bhonsle's failure to offer an apology for his misconduct demonstrates a lack of insight, the panel does not consider there to be evidence of harmful deep-seated personality or attitudinal problems.'

The anaesthetist, who retired last year, was given a three-year conditions of practice order banning him from filling in any more cremation forms.

He must inform the General Medical Council if he applies for or accepts a medical position and must tell any new employer he is subject to the order.

Bhonsle must also tell the GMC if he has more formal disciplinary proceedings taken against him, applies for a job outside the UK and he must tell any new employer he is subject to the order.