A radiographer who was unable to practice at the expected standard for a qualified professional, and was unable to work without close supervision, was suspended for a year at a recent review hearing of the Health and Care Profession Council’s Conduct and Competence Committee.
The panel heard that Mr Ajeesh George, originally suspended for 12 months in 2018, had been employed by the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board as a Band 5 radiographer at the Princess of Wales Hospital in 2015. He had demonstrated extremely poor knowledge and practice of radiography skills during his employment, despite the support and supervision he received in the department.
Allegations of incompetence included a serious lack of appropriate knowledge of radiation protection; failure to check the pregnancy status of female patients of child- bearing age who were referred for x-rays of the abdominal area; failing to position properly for a range of musculoskeletal and abdominal x-rays; inadequate knowledge of exposure parameters for different patients and anatomies; an inability to recognise and/or adapt to the limitations of the patient being x-rayed; and poor communication with patients.
The panel concluded that Mr George would present a serious and ongoing risk to service users or the public due to his lack of professional knowledge and skill, and that public confidence in the profession or the regulatory process would be seriously harmed if the registrant was allowed to remain in practice.
Mr George was not present at the hearing.
For more information about the panel's findings click here.