Locum OO cleared at hearing

A locum optometrist accused of failing to treat a 65-year-old woman suffering from 'markedly' high intraocular pressures while working at Specsavers in Fleet, Hampshire was cleared by a GOC fitness to practise committee at a two-day hearing last week.

Naftali Everard Bastien was working for the day at Specsavers on August 22 2006 when the incident happened. Bastien had faced allegations of deficient professional performance because of a complaint made by Specsavers and not the patient.

At a hearing in July, the panel was told that Bastien did not record any urgency or refer the patient on an emergency same-day basis despite noting the high IOPs. The panel was told that he examined the woman at 4.40pm but, despite the fact the store remained open until 5.30pm, he requested further checks at a later date.