A weekly newspaper has published a clarification and apology about an inaccuracy in a photo caption which wrongly suggested a psychiatric nurse was found ‘unfit to practice’.

George Hogan complained to the Press Complaints Commission about an article reporting on his fitness to practice as a psychiatric nurse, which was published in the Croydon Advertiser in November, raising concerns about accuracy and privacy.

A caption below a photo of him said he had been found unfit to practice at a hearing of the Nursing and Midwifery Council but the ruling actually found his fitness to practice was impaired.

Mr Hogan’s complaint was resolved when the PCC negotiated the publication of the following clarification:

“On November 26 in the article ‘Nurse’s Fitness To Practice Impaired’, we ran a photograph of psychiatric nurse George Hogan, above a caption which suggested Mr Hogan was found to be ‘unfit to practice’ at a Nursing and Midwifery Council hearing.

“The Advertiser would like to point out that the NMC ruled Mr Hogan’s fitness to practice was impaired, but at no stage was he ruled to be unfit to practice.

“We are happy to clarify this point and apologise to Mr Hogan for any inconvenience or upset this has caused.”