Radiographer Struck Off After Serious Patient Consent Breaches at Alder Hey Hospital
A radiographer who pulled down the shorts of a young patient without consulting them or their parents at the world-renowned Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool has been permanently removed from the health care professionals register. Melbin Thankachan, who was employed at the hospital from July to December 2022, resigned after being placed on an informal performance plan following multiple concerning incidents.
Series of Serious Incidents and Communication Failures
Colleagues had raised significant concerns about Thankachan's conduct and communication skills throughout his brief tenure. In September 2022, he failed to consult with a young patient or their parents before pulling down their shorts during a medical procedure. Another incident in December of that year saw him unable to ask a patient's mother how to properly remove their babygrow, and he was also alleged to have not sought proper consent from a patient before tying her gown.
Further demonstrating his lack of competence, Thankachan was unable to properly articulate that a patient needed to be referred to the orthopaedic clinic following an x-ray examination. His understanding of the English language was described as poor, which significantly impacted his ability to communicate effectively with both patients and colleagues throughout his time at the hospital.
Threatening Email and Professional Consequences
In August 2023, after his resignation from Alder Hey, Thankachan sent a threatening email to a former colleague. Due to the serious nature of the concerns raised, he was never permitted to work alone during his employment at the hospital. Alder Hey referred him to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in March 2023 regarding his fitness to practise.
An 18-month interim suspension order was imposed on Thankachan in August 2023 on grounds of public protection. This suspension was subsequently extended by the High Court in February 2025 and again in February 2026. The hospital took these measures seriously to ensure patient safety remained paramount.
Voluntary Removal from Register and Hearing Outcome
In April 2025, Thankachan confirmed he was interested in voluntary removal of his registration, stating he was ready for that outcome by July 2025. A Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service (HCPTS) investigating committee panel had considered the matter and determined there was a case to answer.
By January 2026, Thankachan had admitted the allegations in a document submitted to the HCPTS and confirmed that his fitness to practise was currently impaired due to both misconduct and lack of competence. A HCPTS hearing held last month described the allegations as serious and wide-ranging, suggesting a sustained series of failures including basic clinical decision-making errors and communication concerns with both colleagues and patients, particularly children.
Final Determination and Professional Implications
The panel ultimately found there was no public interest in further examining the allegations since they had been fully admitted and would remain permanently on Thankachan's professional record. Thankachan did not attend the hearing, instead emailing the HCPTS to state he would not attend but needed voluntary removal.
His name has now been officially removed from the register of radiographers on grounds of public protection. Full remediation would be required before he could potentially gain registration again in the future. The Independent has contacted Alder Hey Children's Hospital Trust for comment regarding this serious breach of professional standards and patient trust.
