Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service determination — review hearing
Practising with restrictions — 1 year
The regulator’s term: conditions on practice
What does “practising with restrictions” mean?
Conditions of practice allow the practitioner to keep working but only subject to specific restrictions — for example, supervision, limits on certain procedures, or required reporting to the regulator.
Concerning Paul Desmond Dunne, doctor (General Medical Council 6079074).
Decision date: 28 November 2025 · Hearing started 28 November 2025
In plain English
The MPTS tribunal found at a review hearing on 28 November 2025 that Dr Dunne's fitness to practise remained impaired at a low level by reason of misconduct relating to misappropriation of medication. The original 2024 hearing concerned a drink driving conviction and dishonest misappropriation of medication while working as a cardiologist at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust. The tribunal noted positive progress in GP training and compliance with conditions, and imposed a further 12-month conditions order with a review directed.
Charges
Dr Dunne's 2024 substantive hearing found that he was convicted on 2 September 2022 of driving over the prescribed alcohol limit, for which he was fined £120, disqualified from driving for 26 months, and made subject to a Community Order. The misconduct findings concerned his failure to notify the GMC without delay that he had been charged with the criminal offence, and his misappropriation of prescribed medication for personal use on more than one occasion, including providing false information to a nurse that the medication was for patient use. The 2024 Tribunal imposed 18-month conditions with a review directed.
Findings
At this first review hearing, the Tribunal found that Dr Dunne's fitness to practise was no longer impaired by reason of his conviction, as he had adequately addressed those matters during 18 months under conditions. It found his fitness to practise was no longer impaired in relation to failing to notify the GMC of his charge. However, a low level of current ongoing risk remained in respect of the misappropriation of drugs misconduct. A further 12-month period of conditions was imposed with a review hearing directed. Both parties were in agreement that conditions for 12 months was the appropriate course.
Source
All facts on this page are drawn from the publicly published Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service determination linked below. MedicWatch does not editorialise the regulator’s findings.
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