Press Release

Occupational therapist suspended for one year.

30 April 2007

On 26 April 2007 a Panel of the Conduct and Competence Committee met to consider the case of Ann Bickerstaff  at the Brit Oval, London.

The Panel heard that the registrant's  fitness to practise as was impaired by reason of her misconduct and/or lack of competence whilst employed by Ashton, Leigh and Wigan NHS Primary Care Trust between 4th January 2005 and 3rd May 2006, in that she:

1. Was responsible for poor documentation, including falsely amending a patient’s notes and poor record keeping, including falsely amending a patient’s notes between April 2005 and May 2006.
2. Falsified a document on 9 December 2005, creating a letter which was purported to have been sent to a patient’s family.
3. Failed in her duty of care to a child between November and December 2005. 4. Breached policy on confidentiality and security of information by storing and carrying confidential patient and staff information found on a pen (datastick) on 21 December 2005.

After considering the evidence the Panel found the allegations to be well-founded. Sandy Yule, Chair of the Panel said: "After considering the evidence the Panel found the allegations to be well-founded. These are serious issues of misconduct and lack of competence. They clearly impair Mrs Bickerstaff’s fitness to practise. The findings made by the Panel are clearly sufficiently serious to justify striking-off.  However, it is apparent from Mrs Bickerstaff’s letter dated 13 April 2007 that her personal circumstances have been difficult.  Consequently, the Panel would wish Mrs Bickerstaff to have an opportunity, if she chooses to take it, of demonstrating that she wishes to put her career back on track.  For these reasons it has decided not to strike her off, but rather to suspend her for a period of 12 months.

"The consequence of the making of a suspension order is that it will be reviewed by a Panel before it expires.  Mrs Bickerstaff will therefore have an opportunity on the occasion of that review to present a case to that Panel that she wishes to resume her career."