Health and Care Professions Council determination — substantive hearing
HCPTS panel strikes off James Bugg after convictions
The operating department practitioner was struck off after convictions involving hundreds of indecent images of children.
MedicWatch editorial · Published 17 March 2025 · Updated 23 September 2026
Erasure (struck off the register)
Data last checked: 23 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 James Bugg, operating department practitioner (Health and Care Professions Council ODP34288).
Decision date: 17 March 2025 · Hearing started 17 March 2025
In plain English
The HCPTS panel considered operating department practitioner James Bugg's convictions involving hundreds of indecent images of children. It found very limited insight and a continuing risk of repetition, while the offending exploited children including a baby. The panel concluded that the convictions were incompatible with registration and struck him off.
Charges
Mr Bugg was convicted of three counts of making indecent or pseudo-indecent photographs of children, involving five Category A, 14 Category B and 270 Category C images.
Findings
The panel found impairment on personal and public grounds. It identified very limited insight, an attitudinal concern and a continuing risk of repetition, while the images involved very young children. It concluded that the conviction was fundamentally incompatible with remaining registered and that only striking off was appropriate.
Mitigating and aggravating factors
Mitigating factors
The Registrant acknowledged that his fitness to practise was impaired by reason of his conviction and that the seriousness of the offences merited a Striking Off Order, thereby demonstrating some insight.
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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