GOC hearing postponed

A fitness to practise hearing for optometrist Charanjeev Singh Virdee due to take place on January 18 has been postponed until May 27.

The General Optical Council alleges that Virdee's fitness to practise is impaired due to the fact that on an application form for a contract to provide ophthalmic services dated July 18 2008, he failed to declare the full nature of a conviction under the Fraud Act and the Road Traffic Regulation Act.

At West London Magistrates Court on July 1, 2008, Virdee, pleaded guilty to a charge, under section 6 of the Fraud Act 2006, to using a dead person's disabled badge which also had a changed expiry date. He was ordered to pay a £500 fine and £500 costs. He also pleaded guilty to a charge under section 117 of the Road Traffic Act 1984 for which he received a £250 fine.