Health visitor is struck off after case review

Lee Andrew Hart, who worked for the Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, was handed a six month suspension order in July 2015, after it was proved his fitness to practice was impaired.

The order was set to expire on February 20, prompting the NMC to review the case.

In his absence, a new panel decided a to impose a striking off order, to come into effect when the suspension order expires.

At the hearing, no new information demonstrating Mr Hart’s insight into the risk he exposed patients to was presented, nor were any documents giving reflections on his dishonesty, the impact his behaviour had, or steps he had taken to ensure it would not happen again.

The report states: “In the absence of any information to suggest otherwise the panel could not be satisfied that Mr Hart no longer poses a risk of repeating his past misconduct or, therefore or causing substantial patient harm.”

The original case found nine allegations of 18 against Mr Hart were proved.

They included that he lied about visiting a mother, did not record the outcome of a child protection conference and left client records visible in his car.

Debra Wilson, service line clinical lead for Lancashire Care said it was an “isolated and regrettable case”.

She said: “The Trust takes the conduct of its employees extremely seriously and will take action in instances where the conduct of staff members is found not to be of the standard expected.

“Any allegations that are brought to light are investigated internally in the first instance and in this case, the Trust arranged a disciplinary hearing.

“Before the hearing took place, the staff member in question resigned from the Trust.

“Every measure was taken to ensure that there was as little disruption as possible to the health visiting service and that all of the families that were affected by the staff member’s misconduct were contacted and visited to ensure their needs were met.”