Locum denies allegations

A locum optometrist accused of failing to treat a 65-year-old woman suffering from ‘markedly’ high intraocular pressures told a GOC fitness to practise panel that a language barrier resulted in a lengthy consultation and referral delay.

As reported last week, Naftali Everard Bastien was working for the day at Specsavers in Fleet, Hampshire, when the incident happened. Bastien faces allegations of deficient professional performance because of a complaint made by Specsavers and not the patient.

At last week’s hearing, the panel were told that Bastien did not record any urgency or refer the patient on an emergency same-day basis despite noting the high IOPs. Bastien denies the allegations relating to his ‘non-emergency’ referral of the woman and inadequate records. He told the panel that the woman patient was Sri Lankan and needed her son to interpret, which meant the consultation took longer than normal.