A radiographer who pulled down the shorts of a patient at a world-renowned children’s hospital without consulting them or their parents has been removed from the health care professionals register.
Melbin Thankachan was employed as a radiographer at Alder Hey children’s hospital in Liverpool from 19 July to 31 December 2022, when he resigned, having been placed on an informal performance plan.
Colleagues had raised concerns over his conduct and his communication skills.
In September 2022, he did not consult with a young patient or their parents before pulling down their shorts.
An incident in December of that year saw him unable to ask a patient’s mother how to remove their babygrow and was on one occasion alleged not to have sought consent from a patient before tying her gown.
He was also unable to articulate that a patient was required to be sent to the orthopaedic clinic following an x-ray examination.
He also sent a threatening email to a former colleague in August 2023, having struggled to communicate with patients throughout his tenure at Alder Hey, with his understanding of the English language said to be poor.
Thankachan was not allowed to work alone during his time at the hospital and Alder Hey referred him to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in March 2023, concerning his fitness to practise.
On 9 August 2023, an 18-month interim suspension order was imposed on the grounds of public protection. This was extended by the High Court on 7 February 2025 and 6 February 2026.
In April last year, Thankachan confirmed he was “interested for voluntary removal of my registration” and said he was “ready” for that in July 2025, after a Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service (HCPTS) investigating committee panel considered the matter and determined there was a case to answer
In January 2026, he admitted the allegation in a document submitted to the HCPTS and confirmed that his fitness to practise was currently impaired by reason of misconduct and lack of competence.
A HCPTS hearing, held last month, described the allegations as “serious”.
A report said: “They were wide-ranging, and suggested a sustained series of failures, including alleged failures in basic clinical decision-making but also different concerns regarding communication with colleagues and patients, including children.”
The panel found, however, that there was no public interest in examining the allegations.
Regarding them, the report said: “These have been fully admitted and will remain on the Registrant’s record.”
Thankachan did not attend the hearing, instead emailing the HCPTS to say: “i will not attend it. but i need a voluntary removal (sic)”.
His name has been removed from the register of radiographers on the grounds of public protection. Full remediation would be required before he would be able to gain registration again.
The Independent has contacted Alder Hey Children’s Hospital Trust for comment.
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