Former King's Mill operating department practitioner accused of misconduct

A former Mansfield operating department practitioner at King's Mill Hospital has been accused of misconduct and that his fitness to practise is impaired after he allegedly posted offensive tweets.

By The Newsroom

Published 15th Dec 2016, 15:39 BST

Updated 17th Dec 2016, 10:06 BST

Steven H Knowles will appear before the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Conduct and Competence Committee in London on Friday December 19, for a final hearing.

The allegations detailed on the HCPC website state between 17 December 2014 and 6 January 2015, during the course of his employment as an Operating Department Practitioner by Sherwood Forest Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Mr Knowles posted inappropriate and/or offensive comments on social media.

It is alleged that the posts included tweets saying he would ‘gladly put a bullet’ through the head of Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and others alerting the Mansfield Chad that the hospital was on the ‘brink of a total meltdown’ and on Black Alert.

The Trust alleges the comments constitute misconduct and his fitness to practise is impaired.