Health and Care Professions Council determination — substantive hearing
HCPTS suspends John Smyth for six months over hearing-aid procedure
The HCPTS panel found misconduct after impression material became lodged in a service user's ear. It imposed six months' suspension, with a separate interim order pending appeal.
MedicWatch editorial · Published 2 June 2026 · Updated 22 September 2026
Suspension (suspended from practice) — 6 months
Data last checked: 22 September 2026Report a correction
What does “suspended from practice” mean?
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 John Smyth, hearing aid dispenser (Health and Care Professions Council HAD01188).
Decision date: 2 June 2026 · Hearing started 1 June 2026 and ended 2 June 2026
In plain English
The HCPTS panel suspended John Smyth for six months after finding misconduct during a hearing-aid impression appointment. Material became lodged in a service user's ear and required surgical removal. The panel found failures in procedure, recording and reporting, with incomplete insight and no evidence of remediation. It also imposed a separate interim suspension of up to 18 months to cover the appeal period and any appeal.
Charges
Allegations concerned failures during a hearing-aid impression appointment: not recording a near miss, not arranging clinically indicated wax removal, not using or considering additional protection for a mastoid cavity, delayed recording of medical history, and not notifying a manager of the incident.
Findings
The panel proved all particulars and found misconduct. Impression material became lodged in the service user's ear and required surgical removal. It found incomplete insight, no evidence of targeted remediation and a risk of repetition, amounting to impairment on personal and public grounds. It imposed a six-month suspension, allowing time to consider remediation or complete discussions about voluntary removal. Voluntary removal was not accepted by this decision. A separate interim suspension of up to 18 months covers the appeal period and any appeal.
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.
Spot something incorrect?
If a fact on this page is wrong, or you believe the page should not be published, please submit a correction or takedown request.