Optometrist in false NHS claims case goes to court

The 35-year-old has been charged with 39 offences of false accounting in connection with NHS claims. Mr McCrea, who worked in nursing homes and day centres across south London, may also face demands from three health authorities for repayment of alleged false claims (optician, August 8, 1997). Last July it was revealed that auditors were investigating the extent of the health authorities' claims, which were believed to exceed &\#163;600,000. Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham HA, Croydon HA, and Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth HA jointly issued proceedings earlier last year for the recovery of sums allegedly relating to Mr McCrea's work. A spokeswoman for Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham HA said last week: 'We wouldn't comment on this case until we hear it is going further.' A 44-year-old woman appeared before Harlow magistrates on July 14 accused of theft from her employer, Martin Reynolds Opticians, of High Street, Dunmow, Essex. Carol Morris, of Hull Grove, Harlow, is accused of the theft of an unspecified number of spectacles from the practice between May 1 and June 3 this year. She was remanded on unconditional bail until July 27.