Alison Golledge

Health Panel

Preliminary Matters

Application for the hearing to be held in private

1. At the outset of the hearing Mr Barnfield requested that the whole hearing should be in private on the basis that this was a health matter and that it would not be possible or desirable to have any of the hearing in public. Ms Golledge supported this application.

2. The Panel took account of the principles set out in the HCPTS Practice Note, Conducting Hearings in Private. The Panel also had regard to the need for transparency in the regulatory process. The Panel determined that as this hearing is wholly concerned with the Registrant’s health and personal life the hearing should be conducted in private for the protection of her private life. The Panel therefore granted the application under Rule 10 1 (a) for the hearing to be in private.

Decision on Sanction

3. Having determined that a Conditions of Practice Order was appropriate the Panel went on to consider why a Suspension Order would not be a proportionate and appropriate measure. The Panel concluded that preventing the Registrant from returning to practice where workable conditions would protect the public would be disproportionate and unduly punitive. The Panel identified no factors that would make this sanction appropriate. The Panel considered that it was in the public interest for a Conditions of Practice Order to enable the Registrant to safely return to practice.

4. In considering the period of the Order the Panel determined that it should be for 9 months. This period would afford the Registrant an opportunity to arrange to return to work in a staged way and to undertake this return alongside her existing commitments. The Panel considered that the period of 9 months would be sufficient for the Registrant to demonstrate a safe return to practice and to show a reviewing panel that she was managing her health condition within this role.

5. This order would be reviewed before expiry. On such a review the Panel considered that a future panel would be assisted by the Registrant’s continued attendance and engagement in addition to the information required to be provided in the Conditions of Practice Order.

Conduct and Competence Panel

Preliminary Matters

Hearing to be held in private

1. At the outset of the hearing, which continued on from the Health Committee hearing, the Panel took account of the principles set out in the HCPTS Practice Note, ‘Conducting Hearings in Private’. The Panel also had regard to the need for transparency in the regulatory process. The Panel determined that as this hearing is wholly concerned with the Registrant’s health and personal life the hearing should be conducted in private for the protection of her private life. The Panel therefore determined to exercise its discretion under Rule 10 1 (a) for the whole hearing to be in private.

Panel Decision

2. The Panel considered that it would be appropriate to discontinue this Allegation as the matters have been fully considered and determined within the Health Committee proceedings. It concluded that allowing the Allegation to proceed would amount to pursuing the same Allegation. In the view of the Panel, the public was adequately protected by the imposition of a Conditions of Practice Order and no additional public protection considerations were applicable.

3. Given the previous findings made with regard to the Registrant’s fitness to practise and the nature and circumstances of the misconduct the Panel considered that there is no longer a realistic prospect of the HCPC establishing that the Allegation is well founded and determined that it should be discontinued.

ORDER: The Registrar is directed to annotate the Register to show that, for a period of 9 months, you, Ms Alison Golledge, must comply with the following conditions of practice:

1. You must inform the HCPC within 7 days if you cease to be employed by your current employer.

2. You must inform the HCPC within 7 days if you take up any other or further professional work.

3. You must inform the HCPC within 7 days of becoming aware of:

A. any patient safety incident you are involved in;

B. any investigation started against you;

C. any disciplinary proceedings taken against you.

4. You must inform the following parties that your registration is subject to these conditions:

A. any organisation or person employing or contracting with you to undertake professional work;

B. any agency you are registered with or apply to be registered with to undertake professional work (at the time of application);

C. any prospective employer for professional work (at the time of your application);

D. any organisation through which you are undertaking professional training;

E. any healthcare professional involved with your current or future treatment for [Redacted] health conditions.;

F. the occupational health provider for your current employer.

5. You must allow the HCPC to share, as necessary, details about your performance, compliance with, and/or progress under these conditions with:

A. any organisation or person employing or contracting with you to undertake professional work;

B. any agency you are registered with or apply to be registered with to undertake professional work (at the time of application);

C. any prospective employer for professional work (at the time of your application);

D. any organisation through which you are undertaking professional training;

E. any healthcare professional involved with your current or future treatment for [Redacted] health conditions;

F. the occupational health provider for your current employer.

6. You must register with and remain under the care of a general practitioner and your employer’s occupational health specialist and inform them that you are subject to these conditions.

7. You must provide the HCPC with the contact details of your general practitioner and occupational health specialist within seven days of the Operative Date.

8. You must inform your general practitioner and occupational health specialist about these conditions of practice and authorise that person to provide the HCPC with information about your health and any treatment you are receiving.

9. You must arrange for the provision of reports from your general practitioner and occupational health specialist to the HCPC no later than 8 weeks before the review of this Order covering your compliance with treatment and your current prognosis.

10. You must keep your professional commitments under review and limit your professional practice in accordance with the advice of your general practitioner, or occupational health specialist.

11. You must cease practising immediately if you are advised to do so by your general practitioner, or occupational health specialist. You must inform the HCPC within seven days of receiving this advice.

12. You must place yourself and remain under the indirect supervision of a workplace supervisor nominated by your employer and supply details of your supervisor to the HCPC within 14 days of the Operative Date. You must attend upon that supervisor as required, and in any event at least once a month, and follow their advice and recommendations.

Interim Order

Application

1. The Panel considered the application by the HCPC for an Interim Order to cover the appeal period. The HCPC’s application is made on the 2 statutory grounds as follows:

• it is necessary for the protection of members of the public

• is otherwise in the public interest.

2. Ms Golledge made no submissions on the application for an Interim Order and confirmed to the Panel that she did not object to the making of such an Order.

Decision

3. The Panel makes an Interim Conditions of Practice Order in the same terms as set out above under Article 31(2) of the Health Professions Order 2001, the same being necessary to protect members of the public and being otherwise in the public interest. The Panel considered that to do otherwise would be inconsistent with its earlier findings and would not protect the public against the risk of repetition identified. This Order will expire: (if no appeal is made against the Panel’s decision and Order) upon the expiry of the period during which such an appeal could be made; (if an appeal is made against the Panel’s decision and Order) the final determination of that appeal, subject to a maximum period of 18 months to cover the length of any appeal.

History of Hearings for Alison Golledge