A BASINGSTOKE osteopath has been suspended for unacceptable professional conduct over his treatment of a pain-stricken pensioner.

Darcy Jones, who owns North Hampshire Spine Clinic, in Worting Road, has been told by his professional body, the General Osteopathic Council, that he must not practise for four months.

The ruling came after its professional conduct committee found proven all charges relating to his care of a 75-year-old patient from Basingstoke.

At the hearing, Mr Jones admitted failing to keep adequate notes, diagnosing the patient as having had a stroke without examining her properly and not giving the woman privacy while undressing.

But he denied the other charges found proven which were excessively treating the woman, failing to properly investigate her symptoms and medical history, and diagnosing without considering a range of possibilities.

The five-strong committee heard how the frail pensioner had come to Mr Jones’ private clinic and had five appointments in 10 days after hurting her left arm and neck during a fall five weeks before.

It was found that he did not evaluate pins and needles in her left hand, which the panel regarded as a professional error.

The committee also felt he did not examine nerve problems despite the patient’s worsening condition.

A decision statement by the panel read: “The impression we gained from his evidence was of a man who has become prone to taking inappropriate shortcuts.”

The committee criticised Mr Jones’ note-taking, recording and evaluation of findings. But they singled out his stroke diagnosis without examining the woman properly as a “violation of the relationship with a patient”.

Mr Jones was said to have “behaved in a volatile and arrogant way” in reaching his diagnosis.

The osteopath promised the panel that he would be doubling his future consultation time to get more time to write-up notes. And he presented a bundle of testimonials from patients and colleagues praising his personal qualities.

But the panel concluded: “The failings found proved . . . are so extensive and reflect breaches of such fundamentally important provisions that there is a risk to the public.”

The ban, which was the minimum the panel could give, is due to come into effect 28 days after October 21.

The panel said it expected to see evidence of retraining in areas that were criticised.

Mr Jones declined to comment to The Gazette on his suspension.