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Health and Care Professions Council determination — review hearing

HCPTS extends Diane-Marie Banks suspension for 12 months

A review panel extended hearing aid dispenser Diane-Marie Banks's suspension after finding no evidence of engagement, insight or remediation.

MedicWatch editorial · Published 22 May 2025 · Updated 23 September 2026

Suspension (suspended from practice) — 1 year

Data last checked: 23 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 Diane-Marie Banks, hearing aid dispenser (Health and Care Professions Council HAD02821).

Decision date: 22 May 2025 · Hearing started 22 May 2025

In plain English

The HCPTS panel found that Diane-Marie Banks remained impaired because she had not engaged with the regulator or shown insight or remediation after serious audiology practice failures and dishonesty findings. It extended her suspension for 12 months.

Charges

The substantive panel found that Diane-Marie Banks repeatedly failed to follow appropriate audiometry procedures, fabricated audiograms, supplied inadequate or incorrect hearing aids, mishandled ear fittings and impressions, and failed to make appropriate onward referrals. Her fabrication of audiograms was found dishonest, and the matters amounted to misconduct and lack of competence.

Findings

At this first review of the substantive suspension order, the panel found that Diane-Marie Banks had not engaged with the HCPC or supplied evidence of insight or remediation. It found her fitness to practise remained impaired on both personal and public grounds and extended the suspension for 12 months from expiry of the existing order.

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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