General Optical Council denies student registration appeal

A General Optical Council registration appeals committee has told former student optometrist Trishna Patel that she cannot be restored to Council registers following erasure in 2011.

Patel, who applied to join the register of student dispensing opticians, was erased at a review hearing in September 2011 following a six month suspension order imposed in February that year. She was alleged to have stolen £1,400 from a Vision Express colleague using her bank card. When confronted over the allegation, Patel admitted the offences and offered to repay the money straightaway. She received a police caution for the offence.