Kent-based osteopath removed from the GOsC Register

A GOsC Professional Conduct Committee found Stewart-Hall guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.

In making its decision the Committee, chaired by Ms Judith Worthington, found that:

“Mr Stewart-Hall’s conduct involved an offence of violence leading to a criminal conviction, followed by persistent failure to cooperate with the regulator. He had also demonstrated a reckless disregard of the requirement to maintain professional indemnity insurance while in practice, so putting patients at risk of serious risk of harm by practising while uninsured. These matters represented serious departures from the relevant professional standards set out in the Osteopathic Practice Standards.

Furthermore, Mr Stewart-Hall has demonstrated no real insight, and has not shown that he is now aware of the importance of compliance or that he is prepared to comply with his legal and professional obligations. His willingness to disregard professional and legal obligations in the past, and his lack of insight or engagement, indicated that there remains a continuing risk to patient safety.”

The Committee concluded that the only appropriate and proportionate sanction sufficient to maintain public confidence in the osteopathic profession, and to declare and maintain standards of conduct, was removal.

Stewart-Hall is now unable to practise as an osteopath.

He has 28 days to appeal his removal from the Register, during which time he is suspended from the Register with immediate effect.

ENDS

For further information, contact:

The GOsC Press Office
Tel: 020 7357 6655 x245
Email: pressoffice@osteopathy.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The full decision is available at: http://www.osteopathy.org.uk/news-and-resources/document-library/about-the-gosc/damon-stewart-hall-pcc-hearing-7102015/.

2. Mr Stewart-Hall’s registration number was 7026.

3. The General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) has a statutory duty to regulate the practice of osteopathy in the UK. Osteopaths must be registered with the GOsC in order to practise in the UK.

We work with the public and the profession to promote patient safety by:

• registering qualified professionals
• setting, maintaining and developing standards of osteopathic practice and conduct
• assuring the quality of osteopathic education
• ensuring continuing professional development
• helping patients with concerns or complaints about an osteopath.

4. Information on how we deal with concerns or complaints about osteopaths is available at: http://www.osteopathy.org.uk/standards/complaints/our-complaints-process/.