Ambulance man deemed ‘unfit to practice’ after lies

At a Nursing and Midwifery Council hearing last week, Gareth Moran, who works for the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), admitted:

- Two counts of using another person’s work that he certified as his own while participating in the Diploma of Higher Education in Paramedic Practice at Edge Hill University

- Knowing that the work was not his own

- Intending to create the misleading impression he was the original author

- Failing to inform NWAS that a referral about his fitness to practice was being considered by the NMC

In 2012 Mr Moran was employed as a senior lecturer at Edge Hill University when he was asked to fill a gap in the provision of a course which had oversight of paramedic students.

At time, Mr Moran did not possess a paramedic qualification and participated in a course to become ‘dual qualified’.

As part of the course he was required to submit assignments, but another senior lecturer came to the view that the work was plagerised, and Mr Moran admitted the work was that of his partner who had previously sat the course.

On July 17, 2013, Mr Moran was successfully interviewed for role as capacity manager with NWAS and on August 21, 2013, he applied for role as specialist practitioner in urgent care, failing to divulge he was subject to a fitness to practice investigation by the NMC.

On Friday, three members of the NMC conduct and competence committee, which heard the case, decided Mr Moran was impaired to practice due to his misconduct, but decided not to make any sanction.

They came to the decision that would be “wholly disproportionate and would be punative.”

The report states: “The finding that Mr Moran’s fitness to practice is impaired is a matter of public record which will remain on his registration permanently.

“The panel considered that its finding on that matter is itself a significant burden for any professional. It will have to be disclosed to any future employer or to anyone who asks about Mr Moran’s registration history.”

A spokesperson for NWAS said: “The Trust is aware of the hearing and is currently considering the outcome and the recommendations.”