Press Release

HPC cautions Operating department practitioner

30th October 2006

A Panel of the Conduct and Competence Committee met on the 18th, 19th  and 24th October to consider the case of Angus Sutherland at The Health Professions Council in Kennington, London. The panel heard the allegation that his fitness to practice was impaired by reason of misconduct whilst employed by Addenbrookes NHS Foundation Trust in that he used the internet excessively during work hours and accessed inappropriate websites during work hours which included pornography.

Chair of the Panel Ian Griffiths said...."The Panel finds that the use of the internet was excessive. This finding the Panel makes by reference to the standards of behaviour they would expect of a registered health professional – it does not make that finding by reference to the Trust’s internet policy. Clearly many of the sites visited were inappropriate. This conduct clearly amounts to misconduct. Equally clearly this misconduct impairs Mr Sutherland's fitness to practice.

"However, there was no risk that patients would have been exposed to the images being viewed by Mr Sutherland and there was no scope for patients to be affected by his behaviour. Further, there is no evidence that other members of staff were affected by his activities.
Although the sites were pornographic, there is no evidence or suggestion that any sites involved children, bestiality or violence.

"Although Mr Sutherland has not admitted the allegations, the Panel has had the opportunity to observe him over a long period of time and has come to the conclusion that the whole saga has had a devastating effect on him. The Panel is satisfied that there is a low risk of repetition of this sort of behaviour."

The Panel concluded that a caution order for a period of two years would be the most appropriate sanction in this case.

The Health Professions Council is a UK wide health regulator set up to protect the public. It sets standards for thirteen health professions. The HPC only registers people who meet its standards for their professional skills, behaviour and health, and will take action against people who do not.