Melbin Thankachan Banned: Alder Hey Radiographer Struck Off

Published: April 8, 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online — Upholding the standards of care and public safety.

The professional landscape for healthcare practitioners in the United Kingdom is built upon a foundation of trust, clear communication, and the absolute necessity of informed consent. When these pillars crumble, the consequences for patient safety and professional standing are severe. This reality has been starkly illustrated by the case of Melbin Thankachan, a former radiographer at the world-renowned Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, who has been officially struck off the professional register following a series of deeply concerning clinical and behavioral incidents. The decision by the Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service marks the end of a protracted period of suspensions and investigations that began nearly four years ago, highlighting the rigorous oversight required to protect the most vulnerable patients in the healthcare system.

Thankachan’s tenure at Alder Hey was brief, spanning only from July to December 2022, yet it was marked by a troubling pattern of incompetence and a fundamental failure to adhere to basic medical ethics. During his employment, the hospital had already identified significant red flags regarding his clinical abilities and his capacity to communicate with both staff and patients. These concerns were so acute that Thankachan was prohibited from working alone and was required to be under constant supervision. However, despite these safeguards, several incidents occurred that bypassed the standard protocols of pediatric care. The most prominent of these involved the physical handling of a young patient without any prior consultation or consent.

In September 2022, Thankachan reportedly pulled down a child’s shorts to perform an examination without seeking permission from the child or their parents. This breach of bodily autonomy was followed by another incident in October of the same year, where he failed to obtain consent before tying a patient’s gown. These actions represent a significant departure from the established “consent first” culture of British medicine, where every physical interaction must be explained and agreed upon, especially when dealing with children who may already feel anxious or frightened in a hospital environment. The tribunal noted that these were not isolated lapses in judgment but appeared to stem from a pervasive inability to understand or execute the basic requirements of patient interaction.

A central theme in the allegations against Thankachan was a profound language barrier that rendered him unable to communicate effectively in a high-stakes clinical setting. Documents released by the tribunal revealed that his spoken English and comprehension were so poor that he frequently resorted to typing messages on his mobile phone to convey his intent. This communication breakdown had real-world clinical consequences. In several instances, patients and their families simply could not understand the instructions or information he was providing. Perhaps most critically, he was found to be unable to inform certain patients that they needed to be referred to an orthopedic clinic following their X-ray examinations, potentially delaying necessary follow-up care.

The “Life & Society” impact of such failures in a pediatric setting cannot be overstated. Parents entrust children’s hospitals like Alder Hey with the safety and well-being of their families, expecting a level of professionalism that transcends simple technical skill. The inability to ask a mother how to remove a babygro—an incident that occurred just days before Thankachan’s resignation in December 2022—further illustrated a lack of basic cultural and professional competency. Beyond the clinical failures, the investigation also uncovered a “threatening” email sent by Thankachan to a former colleague in August 2023, suggesting a behavioral volatility that further called into question his fitness to practice in any healthcare capacity.

The legal journey to his removal from the register has been lengthy. Following his resignation, he was initially handed an eighteen-month suspension in August 2023. This suspension was extended twice, once in 2025 and again in 2026, as the Health and Care Professions Council continued to evaluate the wide-ranging allegations. By July of last year, Thankachan himself had expressed a desire to be removed from the register immediately. The HCPTS panel ultimately agreed that striking him off was the only viable course of action to ensure public protection. Should he ever seek to regain his registration in the future, he would be required to undergo full remediation and demonstrate a total transformation in both his clinical and communication skills.

This case serves as a somber reminder of the complexities involved in international recruitment and the vital importance of robust induction and assessment periods. While the NHS relies heavily on the contributions of global talent, the Alder Hey incident underscores that technical qualifications must be matched by an ability to navigate the delicate human elements of care. For the families involved, the closure of this case brings a sense of justice, ensuring that the individual responsible for these breaches of trust can no longer practice within the profession. As the hospital trust continues to reflect on these events, the focus remains on reinforcing the rigorous standards that have made Alder Hey a beacon of pediatric medicine.

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