A senior radiographer who took inappropriate photographs of himself while on duty in clinical rooms at Blackpool Victoria Hospital has been struck off.
William Smethurst, who worked in the hospital’s CT department, was removed from the professional register after repeatedly failing to show insight into his conduct during more than two years of suspension.
The decision followed findings made at an earlier tribunal hearing in May and June 2024 concerning inappropriate photographs taken while Smethurst was on duty, wearing hospital scrubs and in clinical areas.
The original panel also concluded he had acted dishonestly when questioned as part of an internal investigation by Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Smethurst initially denied taking the photographs before admitting they depicted him after he was shown copies.
The tribunal found his denial had been deliberate and intended to prevent the concerns against him from being upheld.
He was suspended from practising for nine months in June 2024 after the panel found his fitness to practise was impaired.
The tribunal said at the time that Smethurst had shown limited insight but could potentially address the concerns through reflection and remediation.
His suspension was extended for a further 12 months at a review in March 2025 after he failed to attend or provide evidence of progress.
Further reviews followed in April and June this year, with the suspension ultimately extended until October.
At the latest hearing, the HCPC argued that Smethurst had been given repeated opportunities to demonstrate insight and address his behaviour but had failed to do so.
He did not attend the September 9 hearing and was not represented.
The panel heard he had not attended any of the previous three review hearings and had indicated in an email sent in March 2025 that he did not want to engage with the proceedings or be contacted by the HCPC again.
No reflective statement, evidence of training or continuing professional development was supplied for the latest review.
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The panel said there had been “no change” since the original finding that his fitness to practise was impaired.
It found he had made no attempt to explain how he now viewed his behaviour or demonstrate insight into its possible effect on colleagues, the public or confidence in the profession.
It said there was no evidence of “reflection, insight, remediation, CPD, training or remorse”.
The panel considered extending the suspension again but found there was no merit in doing so when Smethurst had repeatedly failed to engage.
Conditions of practice were also ruled out because the concerns did not involve his clinical competence and could not practically be addressed through workplace restrictions.
The panel acknowledged that striking a professional from the register was a final step, but said Smethurst had been given more than two years to engage with the process.
It concluded that removing him from the register was proportionate and necessary to protect the public and maintain confidence in the radiography profession.
The panel also recorded that Smethurst had said he did not wish to return to radiography.
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