News

Dispensing optician David Agyeman has been struck off the General Optical Council register for fitting 14 patients with contact lenses while unqualified.

On July 1, a fitness to practise committee found him guilty of misconduct for the fittings made to patients while working for Asda in Sutton Coldfield between July 6 and August 31 2005.

Although a qualified DO, the hearing was told that Agyeman, 32, had failed a course to become a contact lens optician in 2002.

The committee also heard that on February 14 2002 a GOC disciplinary committee had fined Agyeman £700. The fine, along with a severe warning, was for failing to obtain registration as a dispensing optician while employed at Boots Opticians between May 31 1999 and July 10 2000 as well as fitting contact lenses between December 1999 and March 2001 while unqualified.

In erasing his name from the register, panel chair Francesca Jones told Agyeman: 'The committee has been unable to identify any appropriate condition to attach to your registration that would both protect the public and maintain the public's confidence in the profession.'

Having admitted the allegation of fitting patients while unqualified, Agyeman denied misconduct, claiming he had discussed the issue with Asda before his employment. He maintained that there had been one or two optometrists providing supervision. The committee heard from Asda that they considered Agyeman had not been supervised.

Agyeman could face further action after leaving a recording device in the room where the hearing was held during private deliberations by the GOC panel.

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