Birmingham optometrist suspended

A GOC fitness to practise committee has suspended Birmingham-based optometrist Mohammed Zada from its register for nine months.

The committee heard that from May 2020 to May 2021, Zada practised as an optometrist without having adequate professional indemnity insurance.

In January 2021, Zada falsely claimed to have adequate insurance when renewing his GOC registration by inserting his Association of Optometrists membership number from a previous year.

His fitness to practise was found to be impaired by reason of misconduct and the committee found his actions to be dishonest.

The GOC discovered during its investigation that each practice Zada worked at during that period said he was employed as a locum and was expected to have his own insurance.