Optometrist Mukul Patel will be subject to conditions for 18 months following an interim order by the General Optical Council (GOC).
A GOC fitness to practise committee heard that in recent years Patel had allowed his professional standards to slip, possibly due to increased pressure that was being placed upon him at his workplace. He did not cope well with the requirement to carry out higher numbers of examinations, the committee found, and his record keeping was described poor. It was noted that Patel, who did not contest the order, was an optometrist of 'considerable experience' of 25 years with no previous fitness to practise history.
He had been dismissed by his previous employers but since found a new role where he said the working environment was less pressured and he felt better supported. The order, to be reviewed within six months, required the direct supervision of an agreed optometrist to carry out a monthly audit of Patel's record keeping.