Mrs Sundus Tewfik
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Allegation
Whilst registered as a Biomedical Scientist, you:
1. Have a physical and/or mental health condition.
2. By reason of your health, your fitness to practise is impaired.
Finding
Preliminary matters
Service
1. The Panel saw the Notice of today’s hearing dated 3 June 2019, which was sent to the Registrant’s registered address by first class post and by email on the same date.
2. The Panel accepted the advice of the Legal Assessor.
3. The Panel was satisfied that Notice had been properly served as required by Rules 3 and 5 of the Health and Care Professions Council (Health Committee) (Procedure) Rules 2003 (“the Rules”).
Proceeding in absence
4. Ms Simpson, on behalf of the HCPC, applied for the hearing to proceed in the Registrant’s absence.
5. The Panel took into account the HCPTS Practice Note entitled “Proceeding in the Absence of the Registrant”, and accepted the advice of the Legal Assessor. The Panel was aware that its discretion to proceed in the Registrant’s absence should only be exercised with the utmost care and caution.
6. The Panel took into account the Registrant’s frequent correspondence with the HCPC, which makes clear that she wishes to be removed from the Register as soon as possible by way of the Voluntary Removal Agreement (VRA) process, because the regulatory process has a detrimental effect on her health.
7. In an email dated 5 June 2019, two days after the Notice of Hearing was sent to her by email, the Registrant confirmed that she will not be attending today’s hearing.
8. It was clear to the Panel that the Registrant was aware of the purpose of today’s hearing, namely to consider the VRA. On the basis of the information before it, the Panel was of the view that the Registrant had voluntarily waived her right to attend and expected that the hearing would proceed in her absence. The Panel was of the view that, in light of the Registrant’s position, there was little if any prejudice to the Registrant in proceeding today to hear the application for voluntary removal. The Panel considered that it was in the public interest and in the Registrant’s interests that the agreement should be considered expeditiously. In coming to this decision, the Panel also took into account the information before it that the Registrant has found the regulatory process difficult and that she wishes it to end. Accordingly, the Panel decided to proceed in the Registrant’s absence.
Proceeding in private
9. Ms Simpson applied for the entirety of the hearing to proceed in private on the basis that the original allegation was founded upon the Registrant’s health condition, and that there would be references during the hearing to her health. The Panel took into account the HCPTS Practice Note entitled “Conducting Hearings in Private” and accepted the advice of the Legal Assessor. The Panel was satisfied that the hearing should be in private in order to protect the Registrant’s private life, pursuant to Rule 10(1)(a) of the Rules.
Decision
10. The Panel approves the signed VRA dated 7 June 2019.
Order
The Panel granted the application for Voluntary Removal.
Notes
No notes available
Hearing History
History of Hearings for Mrs Sundus Tewfik
| Date | Panel | Hearing type | Outcomes / Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09/07/2019 | Health Committee | Voluntary Removal Agreement | Voluntary Removal agreed |