Keith Roper-Hitches

FTP79215

As a registered Paramedic (PA35154) your fitness to practise is impaired by reason of misconduct. In that you:

1.Practised as a paramedic whilst unregistered between on oraround 8 February 2017 and 17 May 2017;

2. Did not advise your employer in a timely manner, or at all, of the Restraining Order imposed against you by Worcestershire Magistrates’ Court on 11 August 2017;

3. Did not advise the HCPC of your suspension from duties by your employer on or around 22 January 2019;

4. The matter described at particular 1 was misleading and/or dishonest in that you practiced as a paramedic when you were aware that you were unregistered;

5. The matter described at particular 2 was misleading and/or dishonest in that you were aware of your duty to inform you employer of the Restraining Order but did not do so;

6. The matter described at particular 3 was misleading and/or dishonest in that you were aware of your duty to inform the HCPC of your suspension but did not do so.

7. The matters described at particulars 1 to 6 above constitute misconduct.

8. By reason of your misconduct your fitness to practice is impaired.

FTP79042

As a registered Paramedic (PA35154) your fitness to practise is impaired by reason of misconduct and or/lack of competence and/or health. In that you:

1.On or around 18 June 2020 attended a paediatric immediate life support (PILS) course, and you did not demonstrate adequate knowledge and/or skill in relation to a) airway/breathing management; and/or b) patient assessment using the ABCDE approach;

2. On or around 3 July 2020, during a meeting with Colleague C, you:

a) Stood up in an aggressive manner; and/or

b) Moved towards Colleague C in an aggressive manner.

3. Posted offensive and/or inappropriate comments and/or images on social media including:

a) In or around July 2020 and/or on 29 February 2020 and/or on 4 April 2020 your display picture on Twitter stated ‘**** the Police’; and/or

b) On or around 11 July 2017 you posted the following online: "I always had difficulty with the 'non-logical' (my own phrase) attempts of suicide. These people would take a very small dose of medication then phone for an ambulance. Well do you want to die or not? It was usually following an argument with a partner and was mainly, although not exclusively, females...I recall attending a female in her 20s who was a 'non-logical' suicide attempt. She justified calling for an ambulance because she realised that she had booked a holiday with her 'girl-friends' and didn’t want to let them down. Yes, I accept that it was a call for help. But it takes the focus from the real sufferers who need our support. It could have saved a life. It's almost on a par with people who falsely claim rape as this diminished the value of true victims."; and/or

c) On or around 4 April 2020 you posted a picture showing a police uniform alongside a Nazi uniform on your Twitter feed.

4. You have a physical and/or mental health condition as set out in Schedule A.

5. The matters described at particulars 2 and/or 3 above constitute misconduct.

6. The matter described at particular 1 above constitutes misconduct and/or lack of competence.

7. By reason of your misconduct and/or lack of competence/ and or health your fitness to practise is impaired.