Health and Care Professions Council determination — review hearing
HCPTS extends Alexander McDowell's suspension for three months
The HCPTS panel recognised some progress but found continuing impairment and insufficient evidence of remediation. It ordered a three-month extension from 27 June 2026.
MedicWatch editorial · Published 1 June 2026 · Updated 22 September 2026
Suspension (suspended from practice) — 3 months
Data last checked: 22 September 2026Report a correction
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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 Alexander McDowell, paramedic (Health and Care Professions Council PA052478).
Decision date: 1 June 2026 · Hearing started 1 June 2026
In plain English
The HCPTS panel extended Alexander McDowell's suspension for three months following a review of earlier misconduct involving professional boundaries and dishonesty. It recognised some progress and remorse but found insufficient insight and evidence of remediation, with a continuing risk of repetition. The further suspension runs from 27 June 2026 and must be reviewed before 27 September 2026. The panel imposed three months rather than the six months sought by the HCPC.
Charges
The review concerned earlier misconduct findings arising from sexually motivated social-media contact with a vulnerable service user and dishonesty about his age. The published allegation contains not-proved annotations for parts of the sexual-reference allegations and dishonesty relating to non-disclosure of his employment suspension.
Findings
The panel recognised some reflection, remorse and remediation, including reduced use of social media, but found insufficient depth of insight and evidence of relevant training. It found continuing impairment on personal and public grounds and a risk of repetition. It extended suspension for three months from the existing expiry on 27 June 2026, with review before 27 September 2026. The HCPC sought at least six months, but the panel imposed three in light of progress. A separate new disclosure concern was outside the review and was not determined.
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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