Mr Paul J Halfacre

Preliminary matters
Service
1. There was before the Panel a notice of hearing sent by first class post to the Registrant’s “care of address” at which the Registrant had said he could be reached. The notice contained the required particulars including the time, date and venue of the hearing. The Panel was satisfied from the documentation that the Registrant had been served with the notice of hearing in accordance with the Rules. 

Proceeding in Absence
2. Ms Iskander applied for the hearing to proceed in the Registrant’s absence. She referred the Panel to the recent telephone and email contact with the Registrant including a telephone call today at about 9:40am. The Registrant who had previously indicated that he would attend by telephone said that he now intended not to do so. A further attempt to telephone the Registrant was made at the outset of the hearing. There was no answer. The Panel has therefore concluded that the Registrant is well aware of today’s hearing. He had been advised that it was open for him to apply for an adjournment but he had indicated that he did not wish to do so. The Panel has therefore concluded that the Registrant has waived his right to attend and that he would be unlikely to do so if the matter were adjourned. The Panel was satisfied that there would be no injustice to the Registrant if the matter were to proceed in his absence; furthermore this is a mandatory review and it is in the public interest that it should now proceed.

Proceeding in private
3. Ms Iskander applied for the entire hearing to be held in private as this is a hearing before the Health Committee and the evidence relates principally to the Registrant’s health.

4. The Panel therefore determined that it was appropriate that the entire hearing should be in private. As such this is a redacted public copy of the private decision.

That the Registrar is directed to suspend the registration of Mr Paul J Halfacre for a period of 12 months from the date this order comes into effect. 

The Order imposed today will apply from 1 June 2019.

This Order will be reviewed again before its expiry on 1 June 2020.

History of Hearings for Mr Paul J Halfacre