5 day hearing at the HPCPC. I was marshalling arguments for what was a fairly rare point, an application to have a fitness to practice hearing, where the allegations were based on conduct, moved to be heard instead by the Health Committee. Moving the hearing would mean that the allegations would be heard in a much softer setting, with no chance of strike off in the worst case.

Sexual relationships with colleagues do occur often; it is to be expected, as those are the people with whom we spend a vast amount of our time. Many employers have a specific policy dealing with such relationships, to ensure that there is no impropriety or abuse of position.

Social Worker who admitted plagiarism in both her work and her study. Both the study and the work was around the area of DOLS.

It is often the case that when a nurse or other professional makes one error, their case load is rigorously audited, and a whole series of other mistakes come to light.

It's hell in the NMC hearing centre in East London at the moment. The other London hearing centre at Aldwych has closed permanently, meaning that all hearings are being squeezed into the Stratford centre.

It is not possible to over-emphasise the benefit of not only taking advice on how to deal with your fitness to practice referral, but also having representation at any hearings.

Two hearings and two investigation reports in the past two weeks have shown again where it is important to get it right from the start.

Social Worker was accused of inappropriate accessing of the data of family and friends. This is a recurring theme recently - please guys, do not do it,

Just under two weeks ago, I was at the NMC defending a nurse given a police caution for theft of opiates from their employer and for possession of Class A drugs.

I have just returned from the NMC, where after a 4 day hearing into allegations of neglect and inadequate contact.

I got to visit the Edinburgh location for the first time. What a lovely city! Unfortunately, there was little time for sight-seeing,

The panel gave me quite a grilling in the absence of my client (often it is better that they do not attend for certain hearings, and send me instead).

I often get asked how long it takes for a referral to be completed. There are a number of stages in the referral process, and the 'halfway' stage is when the Case Examiners consider whether there is a case to answer

This was a client who had contacted me immediately upon referral Following early written representations by me.

A referral for possession of Class A drugs was successfully defended in both the Crown Court (I have colleagues who specialise in criminal court representation) and at the NMC, where the Case Examiners decided that there was no case to answer.

When you get struck off, this means you cannot work as a nurse or midwife, unless you succeed in an appeal or review, for at least 5 years. You’ll have to find some other way of paying your bills.

They came to me at the earliest possible stage, and I was able to advise them on the correct steps to take, with a view to defending themselves throughout the NMC investigation.