‘Incompetent’ speech therapist struck off

A SPEECH and language therapist has been struck off the Health Care Professions Council register for “lack of competence” while at a Carmarthenshire hospital.

It follows a substantive review of a suspension order originally imposed on Lyndsey J McConnell on August 22, 2012.

A panel heard that Mrs McConnell, who was not present at the hearing but represented by Andrea Cook, was originally suspended for 12 months on the grounds of a lack of competence while employed at Glangwili Hospital.

Mrs McConnell was employed by the Hywel Dda Health Board as a band seven highly specialist speech and language therapist.

She worked at Glangwili Hospital, in Carmarthen, and Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli.

In July 2006 the head teacher of one of the schools at which she worked raised concerns about her practice.

In September 2009, a senior speech and language therapist at the health board was asked to undertake an internal investigation in relation to concerns about the working practices.

She prepared a report of her findings and the registrant’s employment was terminated on September 30, 2011.

An investigation found a number of failings including not completing assessments adequately, failing to communicate effectively, failing to maintain adequate notes, failing to manage her time effectively and demonstrating poor clinical decisionmaking, it was heard.

Chairwoman Penny Griffith said: “Mrs McConnell has come nowhere near addressing the deficiencies in her practice.”