Health and Care Professions Council determination — review hearing
HCPTS extends William Smethurst's suspension for four months
The HCPTS review panel found continuing impairment but allowed a further period for engagement and remediation. The four-month extension runs from 19 June 2026.
MedicWatch editorial · Published 5 June 2026 · Updated 22 September 2026
Suspension (suspended from practice) — 4 months
Data last checked: 22 September 2026Report a correction
What does “suspended from practice” mean?
The regulator imposed a fixed-term suspension in this decision. Its start date, appeal provisions and any later review affect whether it is currently in force. Check the official register for the practitioner's current status.
Concerning William Smethurst, radiographer (Health and Care Professions Council RA64547).
Decision date: 5 June 2026 · Hearing started 5 June 2026
In plain English
The HCPTS panel extended William Smethurst's suspension for four months from 19 June 2026. The review followed earlier misconduct findings involving explicit photographs taken at work and dishonesty during an investigation. The panel found continuing impairment and no evidence of sufficient insight or remediation, but saw some indication that he was willing to engage. Another review is required before 19 October 2026.
Charges
The review followed proved misconduct involving sexually motivated explicit photographs of himself taken while on duty in clinical areas, and dishonestly denying taking them during an employer investigation.
Findings
The panel found continuing impairment on personal and public grounds because there was no evidence of sufficient insight or remediation. It considered the misconduct remediable and took a recent email as some indication of willingness to engage. It extended suspension for four months from 19 June 2026, with review before expiry on 19 October 2026. It did not strike the registrant off at this review.
Source
All facts on this page are drawn from the publicly published Health and Care Professions Council determination linked below. MedicWatch does not editorialise the regulator’s findings.
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