FTP or management failing?

Today's case at the HPC is that of a physiotherapist. It is another case where the management structure of the NHS has clearly failed to take timely action on a minor question, and which has allowed the machinery of the HPC to blunder in. It is difficult to justify this as a serious misdemeanour from which the public needs protecting. It is more easily understood as petty malice on someone's behalf. Copied below is the allegation as printed on the HPC website. In the next financial year. The FTP budget for next financial year is estimated in the region £5.6million.

Your fitness to practise as a registered health professional is impaired by reason of your misconduct and/or lack of competence in that:

1. At all material times you were employed as a Physiotherapist by East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey Primary Care Trust.

2. On 1st August 2005 you took unauthorised absence from work whilst on duty.

3. On 6th February 2006 you took unauthorised absence from work whilst on duty.

4. Between March 2005 and February 2006 whilst on duty:
(a) you made excessive personal telephone calls on the Trust’s telephone and;
(b) this was contrary to Trust policy.

5. Following an audit of your patient treatment notes it was found that:
(a) there were discrepancies between the activity recorded on your statistics sheets and the activity documented in your patient notes;
(b) you failed to keep adequate patient notes.

6. During your employment at the Trust:
(a) on 6th March 2006 you did not assess a patient, Mr A pre-operatively.