The Health Ombudsman took immediate registration action by imposing conditions on the registration of Matthew William Hand, effective 19 August 2022. Details of Matthew William Hand's registration, including the full list of imposed conditions, can be viewed on the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency website.

Conditions imposed include the requirement that Matthew William Hand, must:

• not have contact with female patients
• only practise as a registered health practitioner in employment and at practice location/s approved by the Health Ombudsman
  
• take all reasonable steps to ensure female patients are told at the time of wanting to book an appointment with the practitioner that they cannot. The practitioner must not provide this information to patients personally.

Within three (3) months of the imposition of these conditions the practitioner must nominate, to the Office of the Health Ombudsman for approval in writing on the Nomination of education form, an education course or tailored education program conducted by an individual (the education program) addressing the following topics:

• ethics and professional boundaries

In accordance with section 62(2) of the Health Ombudsman Act 2013 (the Act), the Health Ombudsman’s decision will continue to have effect until:

• the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal sets the decision aside
  or
• the Health Ombudsman removes the conditions imposed on Matthew William Hand registration under section 65 of the Act.