Emma Thompson

Preliminary Matters

Service

1. The Panel was provided with a copy of the Notice sent by email to the Registrant’s registered email address on 5 December 2023, setting out the time, date and venue for this substantive hearing and the possibility of the Panel proceeding without the Registrant, in the event that she did not The Panel was provided with confirmation that the email had been sent and a delivery receipt for the email.
2. The Panel was satisfied that service of the Notice of Hearing in this case has been effective, in accordance with the Procedure Rules.

Proceeding in absence

3. The Registrant did not attend this hearing. The HCPC, made an application to proceed in the Registrant’s absence in accordance with the relevant Practice Note. When deciding whether to proceed in the absence of the Registrant, the Panel took into account the submissions made by the HCPC and accepted the advice of the Legal Although the Panel has a discretion to proceed in the absence of the Registrant, this discretion should be exercised with the utmost care and caution. There is a public interest in this matter being progressed subject to the principles of fairness to the Registrant.
4. The Panel noted that the Registrant had not responded to the Notice of No request has been made for an adjournment and no objection is raised to the hearing taking place in the Registrant’s absence. In all the circumstances the Panel concluded that the Registrant had voluntarily absented herself and thereby waived her right to be present at this hearing. There has been no indication that the Registrant would attend on another date if the matter were adjourned today and it is important to deal with cases expeditiously.
5. In all the circumstances, the Panel decided it was both appropriate and fair to proceed in the absence of the Registrant.

Conducting the hearing in private

6. The Panel considered the HCPTS Practice Notes on Conducting Hearings in Private and Health The latter states: Most fitness to practise hearings are held in public, but panels have the discretion to exclude the press or public from all or part of a hearing in appropriate cases.

7. The Panel accepted the advice of the Legal Assessor that the Panel has a discretion to hold the hearing either wholly or partly in private where to do so is necessary in the interests of justice and/or to protect the private life of the Registrant. The Panel also took into account the Practice Notes.

8. The Panel decided that this hearing should be conducted entirely in private in order to protect the private life of the Registrant.

Resuming hearing on 19, 20 June & 4 July 2024

Preliminary Matters

Service

1. The Panel had information before it that Notice of today’s hearing was sent by email to the Registrant’s registered email address on 9 April 2024 and 2 May 2024, setting out the dates, time and venue for this substantive hearing and the possibility of the Panel proceeding without the Registrant, in the event that she did not
2. The Panel was satisfied that service of the Notice of Hearing in this case had been effective, in accordance with the Conduct and Competence (Procedure) Rules 2003.

Proceeding in absence

3. Mr Micklewright, on behalf of the HCPC, made an application to proceed in the Registrant’s absence. Mr Micklewright submitted that the Registrant’s position had not changed since the last hearing, in that she had voluntarily waived her right to attend.

4. The Panel took into account the HCPTS Practice Note entitled “Proceeding in the Absence of the Registrant”, accepted the advice of the Legal Assessor, and was aware that the discretion to proceed in the absence of the Registrant should be exercised with the utmost care and caution.

5. The Panel noted that as on the previous occasion, the Registrant had not responded to the Notice of Hearing. The Panel took into account the public interest of dealing with cases expeditiously, as well as fairness to the Registrant, and the potential disadvantage to her in proceeding in her absence. It was material that the Registrant has not requested an adjournment. The Panel concluded that the Registrant had again voluntarily absented herself and thereby waived her right to be present at this hearing.

6. In all the circumstances, the Panel decided it was fair and in the interests of justice to proceed in the absence of the Registrant.

Conducting the hearing in private

7. Mr Micklewright applied for the entire hearing to take place in private on the basis that the case revolved almost entirely around the Registrant’s health.

8. The Panel considered the HCPTS Practice Note entitled “Conducting Hearings in Private” and accepted the advice of the Legal Assessor.

9. The Panel decided that this hearing should be conducted entirely in private in order to protect the private life of the Registrant because the case was underpinned by allegations regarding the Registrant’s health.

ORDER: That the Registrar is directed to suspend the registration of Ms Emma Thompson for a period of 12 months from the date this order comes into effect.

This order will expire on 01 August 2025.

The Panel decided to impose an Interim Suspension Order for a period of 18 months, a duration which is appropriate and proportionate in light of the Panel’s previous decisions, in order to allow any appeal which the Registrant brings, to be concluded.

History of Hearings for Emma Thompson