Mr Waheed Ahmed Ghauri

Profession: Paramedic

Registration Number: PA41943

Hearing Type: Review Hearing

Date and Time of hearing: 10:00 25/10/2024 End: 17:00 25/10/2024

Location: This hearing is being held remotely via video conference

Panel: Health Committee
Outcome: Suspended

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Allegation

As a registered Paramedic, your fitness to practise is impaired by reason of caution and/or misconduct and/or a health condition. In that:

1. On 5 July 2021, you accepted a Caution from Greater Manchester Police for sending by public communication network an offensive/indecent/obscene/menacing message/matter; stalking involving serious alarm/distress; and sending a letter/communication/article conveying a threatening message.

2. On 17 June 2021, you attended your place of work:

a) Under the influence of alcohol; and

b) After having driven to the location whilst over the prescribed limit for alcohol.

3. You have a physical or mental health condition as set out in Schedule A.

4. The matter set out in particular 2 above constitutes misconduct.

5. By reason of your caution and/or misconduct and/or health your fitness to practise is impaired

Finding

Preliminary Matters

Service

1. The Panel was satisfied that the notice of hearing dated 27 September 2024 gave the 28 days’ notice required by rule 13 of the HCPC (Health Committee) (Procedure) Rules 2003 as amended (‘the Rules’) and was served on the Registrant at his registered email address. The notice gave details of the date, time and mode of hearing (virtual) and explained the purpose of the hearing and the powers of the reviewing Panel. A link to attend this virtual hearing was also sent to the Registrant’s registered email address in advance of the hearing. The Panel also saw that the Registrant had responded to the notice by email.
2. In those circumstances the Panel was satisfied that there had been good service of the notice of hearing.

Adjournment and Proceeding in Absence

3. Ms Sampson applied for the hearing to proceed notwithstanding the absence of Mr Ghauri. He has not sought an adjournment and his emails to the HCPC of 16 October 2024 and 20 October 2024 suggests he has no intention of engaging with the hearing today. There is a clear public interest in the prompt disposal of this review taking place before the suspension order expires on 2 December 2024.

4. The Panel accepted the advice of the Legal Assessor and took into account the HCPTS Practice Note, Proceeding in the Absence of the Registrant, June 2022. The Panel took into account its finding that the Registrant had chosen not to attend the hearing. This was supported by evidence that in an email to the HCPC, the Registrant voluntarily absented himself from the hearing and expressed the wish to disengage from the HCPC. The Panel considered there is also a clear public interest in prompt disposal of this review today, before the current suspension order expires. For those reasons, the Panel decided that it was not disproportionally unfair to the Registrant to proceed in his absence. Accordingly, the Panel decided to do so.

Conduct of the Hearing in Private

5. Ms Sampson applied for the entire hearing to be conducted in private under rule 10(1)(a) of the Rules, to protect the private life of the Registrant in relation to his health. As the entire hearing would be concerned with the Registrant’s health, the hearing should be conducted in private, and not parts of the hearing only. Ms Sampson referred to the relevant parts of the HCPTS Practice Note, Conducting Hearings in Private, dated March 2017 in support of her application.

6. The Panel accepted the advice of the Legal Assessor and the Practice Note referred to above. It is clear that this is a health case and the public interest in these circumstances is outweighed by Mr Ghauri’s right to ensure his private life, with reference to his health, in particular is protected. The Panel agreed and directed that the hearing be conducted in private.

 

Order

ORDER: The Registrar is directed to suspend the registration of Mr Waheed Ahmed Ghauri for a further period of 6 months on the expiry of the existing order.

Notes

The Order imposed today will apply from 2 December 2024.

This Order will be reviewed again before its expiry on 2 June 2025.

Hearing History

History of Hearings for Mr Waheed Ahmed Ghauri

Date Panel Hearing type Outcomes / Status
25/10/2024 Health Committee Review Hearing Suspended
02/11/2023 Health Committee Review Hearing Suspended
30/01/2023 Health Committee Final Hearing Suspended
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