Health and Care Professions Council determination — substantive hearing
HCPTS orders Stephen Spencer's removal following misconduct findings
The HCPTS panel found sexual misconduct towards colleagues and dishonesty in a controlled drugs record. It ordered striking off, with interim suspension during the appeal process.
MedicWatch editorial · Published 10 September 2026 · Updated 22 September 2026
Erasure (struck off the register)
Data last checked: 22 September 2026Report a correction
What does “struck off the register” mean?
The regulator directed removal from the register in this decision. The decision explains when the direction takes effect and any appeal provisions. Check the official register for the practitioner's current registration status.
Concerning Stephen Spencer, operating department practitioner (Health and Care Professions Council ODP15254).
Decision date: 10 September 2026 · Hearing started 3 September 2026 and ended 10 September 2026
In plain English
The HCPTS panel ordered operating department practitioner Stephen Spencer to be struck off after findings involving sexual misconduct towards colleagues and dishonesty in a controlled drugs record. Some allegations were discontinued or not proved. The panel found current impairment and a risk of repetition, with insufficient insight or remediation. Interim suspension covers the appeal process before the final removal order takes effect.
Charges
The case concerned unwanted physical contact with colleagues, sexually motivated touching and comments, and dishonest retrospective entries in a controlled drugs record using a colleague's signature. Three original particulars were discontinued. The panel found most remaining particulars proved, but did not prove that the conduct had the purpose of violating dignity or creating an intimidating environment.
Findings
The panel found misconduct, including sexual harassment, and current impairment on personal and public grounds. It distinguished the proved effect of the conduct from the unproved alleged purpose. It found a risk of repetition and insufficient insight or remediation, and ordered striking off. An interim suspension for up to 18 months covers the appeal period or an appeal; the final order takes effect after the 28-day appeal period if no appeal is made.
Mitigating and aggravating factors
Aggravating factors
• repetition of breaches of professional boundaries; • persistence of sexually motivated touching when told to stop; • lack of insight into sexual misconduct and placing blame on the women who reported it; • lack of remorse and remediation into sexual misconduct; • potential for harm to service users.
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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