Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service determination — review hearing
MPTS tribunal finds Dr Cian Hughes no longer impaired after relationship with patient
A Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service review has found Dr Cian Hughes's fitness to practise no longer impaired, directing that his 12-month suspension be left to expire. He was suspended in 2025 for pursuing a sexually motivated relationship with a former paediatric patient.
MedicWatch editorial · Published 18 June 2026 · Updated 8 July 2026
No impairment found
Added to MedicWatch: 8 July 2026Report a correction
What does “no impairment found” mean?
The regulator considered the case and found that the practitioner's fitness to practise was not currently impaired. No restrictions are imposed.
Concerning Cian Hughes, doctor (General Medical Council 7280579).
Decision date: 18 June 2026 · Hearing started 18 June 2026
In plain English
The MPTS tribunal found that Dr Hughes's fitness to practise is not impaired by reason of misconduct. At this first review hearing, it examined a 12-month suspension imposed in 2025 for a sexually motivated relationship he pursued with a patient, whom he had met as a vulnerable young paediatric patient. The tribunal was satisfied he had shown significant insight, remediated as far as he could and posed a low risk of repetition, and that the original suspension had upheld public confidence. It directed that the suspension be left to expire.
Charges
This was the first review of a 12-month suspension imposed by the 2025 Tribunal for misconduct. That Tribunal found proved that, having observed a procedure on Patient A (a minor) as a medical student in 2011, Dr Hughes sent her inappropriate messages between 2011 and 2013 that were not part of her medical care. From December 2013 he used his professional position to pursue an improper emotional relationship with her, and from October 2014 sent sexually motivated messages, subsequently entering into a sexual relationship with her from 2015. The Tribunal found he knew Patient A was vulnerable by reason of her age before turning 18 and her mental state. A police investigation was discontinued with no charges. The conduct was found to amount to serious misconduct.
Findings
At this first review hearing, the Tribunal assessed whether Dr Hughes's fitness to practise remained impaired. It considered his further written reflections, CPD and evidence that he had maintained his medical knowledge and skills. The Tribunal was satisfied that Dr Hughes had shown significant insight, had remediated to the extent within his power, had made genuine and sincere apologies, and that the risk of repetition was low, noting that more than ten years had passed with no similar behaviour. It considered that the seriousness of the original misconduct had been marked, and public confidence and professional standards upheld, by the 2025 Tribunal's finding of impairment and the maximum 12-month suspension. The Tribunal determined that a finding of current impairment was not required to maintain public confidence or uphold standards, and concluded that Dr Hughes's fitness to practise is not impaired. It directed that the existing suspension order be left to expire.
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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