Former N&N radiographer suspended for a further 12 months

Charles Hill, who worked as a radiographer at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital from December 2010 to November 2011, was issued with a suspension order last year after a Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) committee found that his fitness to practise was impaired.

A panel reconvened in London on Tuesday and deemed that Mr Hill should continue to be suspended because he had not produced any evidence that he had addressed his failings and he was still likely to put patients at risk if he was allowed to return to work.

A conduct and competence committee found that the radiographer did not demonstrate appropriate knowledge in several key areas and on a number of occasions, produced radiographic images of poor quality.

The panel found that Mr Hill compromised patient safety in that images had to be repeated, exposing patients to elevated radiation levels.

They added that his practise amounted to 'misconduct and lack of competence' after he was unable to practise without supervision and failed to act on advice from senior staff.

Mr Hill was given a final written warning by bosses at the N&N in April 2011 and his employment with the NHS trust was terminated six months later because of incapacity.

The radiographer, who did not attend the latest HCPC conduct hearing, claimed in a letter that he had re-educated himself, but provided no evidence for that claim.

A report from the HCPC said: 'The panel had heard no independent evidence that the registrant had improved his clinical skills such that he would be safe to return to practise. Given the absence of such information, the panel was driven to the conclusion that the registrant continued to pose a clear risk to service users and to the public.'

'The present panel concluded that Mr Hill continued to demonstrate a lack of insight into his deficiencies in relation to core skills and standards.'