GOC suspends Glenrothes-based optometrist

The GOC suspended Glenrothes-based optometrist Kirsty Watson for three months after a fitness to practise committee found her fitness to practise impaired by reason of misconduct.

In October 2019, Watson failed to perform a dilated eye examination on a patient, detect signs of choroidal melanoma, identify the patient’s choroidal naevus or refer her for urgent investigation.

She also failed to maintain an adequate standard of record keeping or to urgently refer the same patient to the hospital eye service after a second examination in November 2020.

The Committee determined that the collective failings of the registrant placed a patient at risk of significant harm, amounting to misconduct and impairment on public interest grounds.