Louise Margaret Leyden

Optician would like to point out that Louise Margaret Leyden has never faced allegations of fraud, dishonesty or criminal intent with regard to preparation of NHS claims as wrongly reported in previous issues of Optician dated April 17, May 8 and May 29 2009.

Louise Leyden admitted to errors being made, less than 20 per cent of the claims were actually completed by her and at that time she thought she was working within the GOS guidelines.

The fitness to practise hearing was not invited to consider any allegations of criminal intent and noted Louise Leyden was proactive and took vigorous and robust steps to rectify any previous shortcomings. Accordingly the committee found that, not withstanding her previous misconduct, her fitness to practise as a dispensing optician was not impaired and no warning was necessary in her case.