Mr Simon Wicker

Preliminary Matters

Proceeding in Private

1. The HCPC firstly applied for the entirety of the hearing to be heard in private given that this was a matter which related to the health of the Registrant, pursuant to Rule 10(1)(a) of the Health and Care Professions Council (Health Committee) (Procedure) Rules 2003 (“the Rules”). This provides that, “proceedings shall be held in public unless the Committee is satisfied that, in the interests of justice or for the protection of the private life of the health professional … the public should be excluded from all or part of the hearing”.

2. The Panel received advice from the Legal Assessor and had regard to the HCPTS Practice Note entitled “Conducting Hearings in Private”. The Panel noted that this was a matter involving an application for voluntary removal as a consequence of the Registrant’s health and therefore issues relating to his health were inextricably entwined throughout the case. The Panel was satisfied that it was wholly appropriate for it to exercise its discretion to conduct the entirety of the hearing in private so as not to compromise the Registrant’s right to a private life.

3. The Panel noted that a Scheduling Officer of the HCPTS was shadowing the Presenting Officer for the purposes of training and development and was content for this employee to continue to observe the proceedings, as they were subject to the same obligations of confidentiality as the Presenting Officer.

Decision

4. The Panel supported the disposal of this matter by consent and was satisfied that the professional disciplinary proceedings should accordingly be withdrawn.

The Panel granted the voluntary removal agreement.

No notes available

History of Hearings for Mr Simon Wicker