Operating Department Practitioner Struck Off For Fraud, UK

Main Category: Medical Malpractice / Litigation
Article Date: 23 Jul 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Operating department practitioner (ODP), Christopher Webster, has been removed from the HPC Register for falsely obtaining donations from medical companies.

A panel of the HPC Conduct and Competence Committee heard that while employed by University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Mr Webster along with one other individual set up a private bank account named the ODA Professional and Technical Development Fund.

He then sent letters to medical companies on Trust letterhead asking for donations to the account so that several ODP's from the Trust could attend the annual 2006 ODP conference.

Mr Webster did not attend the hearing held in London. The panel heard from several witnesses and considered written documentation which included an interview with the registrant by the Trust's Local Counter Fraud Specialist. During the interview Mr Webster admitted opening the account without the Trust's permission and that he was virtually the only beneficiary of the donations made to the account.

Panel Chair, Ian Griffins commented:

"The persistent and deliberate dishonesty over a lengthy period of time is a serious matter of concern and is likely to bring the profession into disrepute. By the actions of the registrant, he betrayed the trust placed in him by his employer and his colleagues."

The panel decided the most appropriate action was to strike Christopher Webster from the Register.

Notes:

The Health Professions Council is an independent, UK-wide health regulator set up by the Health Professions Order (2001). The HPC keeps a register for thirteen different health professions and only registers people who meet the standards it sets for their training, professional skills, behaviour and health. The HPC will take action against health professionals who do not meet these standards or who use a protected title illegally.

1. Full details of this hearing will be posted online here.

2. Information about the HPC's fitness to practise proceedings can be found on the HPC website here: http://www.hpc-uk.org/complaints/

HPC currently regulate the following thirteen professions. Each of these professions has one or more 'protected titles'. Anyone who uses one of these titles must register with the HPC. To see the full list of protected titles please see: http://www.hpc-uk.org/aboutregistration/protectedtitles/

Arts therapists
Biomedical scientists
Chiropodists / podiatrists
Clinical scientists
Dietitians
Occupational therapists
Operating department practitioners
Orthoptists
Paramedics
Physiotherapists
Prosthetists / orthotists
Radiographers
Speech and language therapists

Source:
Sarah Giles
Health Professions Council