Andrew P Friend

Preliminary Matters

Service

1. The Panel was satisfied that the Registrant had been properly served with notice of today’s hearing by email dated 19 February 2025 in accordance with the Health and Care Professions (Conduct and Competence Committee) (Procedure) Rules 2023, as amended. Delivery of that notice was confirmed by email of the same date.
Proceeding in the Registrant’s absence

2. Ms Khorassani made an application for the hearing to proceed in the Registrant’s absence on the grounds that he had voluntarily absented himself and waived his right to attend.

3. The Panel had regard to the HCPTS Practice Note on “Proceeding in the Absence of the Registrant” and accepted the advice of the Legal Assessor. The Panel noted that the Registrant had not engaged with the HCPC in these proceedings. He had attended neither the substantive hearing nor the previous substantive order review. He had not responded to any of the communications from the HCPC in relation to today’s hearing. Today’s hearing is a mandatory review of a substantive order which must take place before 11 April 2025. The Panel was satisfied that the Registrant had voluntarily absented himself and waived his right to attend. The Panel considered that the Registrant would be unlikely to attend if the hearing were adjourned to another date and that no useful purpose would be served by an adjournment. The Panel decided that it was in the public interest, and in the Registrant’s own interests, for the review to take place without delay. The Panel therefore determined that it should proceed with the hearing in the Registrant’s absence.

Hearing in private

4. Ms Khorassani made an application for the entire hearing to be conducted in private on the grounds that the case relates to the Registrant’s health.

5. The Panel had regard to the HCPTS Practice Note on “Conducting Hearings in Private and accepted the advice of the Legal Assessor. The Panel decided to grant the application for the entire hearing to be conducted in private on the grounds advanced by Ms Khorassani.

ORDER: The Registrar is directed to suspend the registration of Mr Andrew P Friend for a further period of 6 months on the expiry of the existing Order.

The Order imposed today will apply from the end of 11 April 2025.

This Order will be reviewed again before its expiry at the end of 11 October 2025.

History of Hearings for Andrew P Friend