Mr Sachin Pandya
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Allegation
Allegations as proven at the final hearing
Whilst registered as a Paramedic with the Health and Care Professions Council:
1. On 26 July 2018, you tested positive for cannabis whilst at work at the British Emergency Ambulance Response Service (BEARS).
2. On 2 August 2018, you advised Person B, Paramedic Service Manager at BEARS that the HCPC had informed you that they ‘wasn’t bothered’ about the matter in paragraph 1, or words to that effect and/or that your positive result had nothing to do with your conduct as a paramedic, when that was not the case.
3. After you were notified of the HCPC investigation regarding the matter in paragraph 1, you sent offensive and / or threatening text messages to Person A on;
a. 25 August 2018;
b. 30 August 2018;
c. 16 July 2019;
d. 17 July 2019
4. You sent offensive and / or threatening text messages to Person B on:
a. 16 July 2019;
b. 17 July 2019;
c. 6 November 2019
5. You sent offensive and / or threatening text messages to Person C on:
a. 16 July 2019;
b. 17 July 2019;
c. 28 September 2019;
d. 6 November 2019
6. You sent offensive and / or threatening emails to Person D on 6 November 2019
7. [Not Proved].
8. The matters set out at paragraphs 1 - 7 amount to misconduct.
9. By reason of your misconduct, your fitness to practise is impaired.
Finding
Preliminary Matters
Service of Notice
1. A Notice of Hearing dated 15 December 2021 was sent to the Registrant at his e-mail address on the HCPC Register. This Notice informed the Registrant of the date and time of the hearing and this would take place by video conference on 27 January 2022. That hearing was adjourned.
2. A further Notice of Hearing dated 7 February 2022 was sent to the Registrant at his e-mail address on the HCPC Register. This Notice informed the Registrant of the date and time of the hearing and that it would take place by video conference.
3. The Panel was satisfied that good service had taken place in accordance with the Health and Care Professions Council (Conduct and Competence Committee) (Procedure) Rules 2003 (the “Rules”).
Hearing in private
4. The Panel decided that it was appropriate to hear an application for an adjournment of the hearing in private under Rule 10(1)(a) of the Rules. This decision was made to protect the Registrant’s private life, given that his application for an adjournment included details relating to his health.
Decision
5. The Panel found that it could not impose conditions which would be workable or practical. It also found that until the Registrant has taken steps to begin to remediate the issues identified by the previous panel, that a Conditions of Practice Order would not be sufficient to protect the public.
6. Having balanced all of the competing interests, the Panel has concluded that the proportionate and least restrictive step it can take is to continue the current Suspension Order for a further 12 months.
7. The Panel determined that a period of 12 months was proportionate and sufficient. On the evidence available to the Panel, it appears that the Registrant has not begun to address the issues identified by the panel who heard the substantive appeal. The Panel echoes the words of the substantive panel that the Registrant has a lot of work ahead of him. The Panel is also mindful that the Registrant needs to recover.
8. The Panel would wish to emphasise that if the Registrant does have information which shows that he has addressed the issues identified by the previous panel, then he should apply for an early review.
9. This Panel cannot bind a future panel, but it wishes to draw the Registrant’s attention to the findings of the previous panel and wishes to emphasize that a future panel is likely to be assisted by:
• A reflective piece of writing considering the Registrant’s past actions and the impact they may have had on service users, colleagues and the public interest.
• Evidence of any courses, including (but not restricted to) CPD, which are relevant to his work as a Paramedic.
• Evidence from a GP/ Counsellor.
Order
ORDER: The Registrar is directed to suspend the registration of Mr Sachin Pandya for a further period of 12 months on the expiry of the existing Order.
Notes
The order imposed today will apply from 25 February 2022.
This order will be reviewed again before its expiry.
Hearing History
History of Hearings for Mr Sachin Pandya
| Date | Panel | Hearing type | Outcomes / Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30/01/2023 | Conduct and Competence Committee | Review Hearing | Struck off |
| 14/02/2022 | Conduct and Competence Committee | Review Hearing | Suspended |
| 27/01/2022 | Conduct and Competence Committee | Review Hearing | Adjourned |
| 25/01/2021 | Conduct and Competence Committee | Final Hearing | Suspended |