Optometrist struck off for forging documents

An optometrist who forged NHS forms to improve his domiciliary returns was struck off the Register last week.

Robert Matthew Thompson, 41, appeared before a GOC disciplinary hearing on January 21 following his conviction at Nottingham Crown Court last year.

After investigations by the NHS of domiciliary forms the optometrist had presented for the period December 3 2001 to July 11 2002, Thompson was convicted of 12 counts of false accounting on June 25 2004.

On August 2 2004 he was sentenced to undertake a community punishment order of 100 hours in relation to each count, to run concurrently, and ordered to pay a contribution of £2,225 towards prosecution costs, £250 to the Department for Work & Pensions, and £2,000 to the investigating local authorities. 

At last week's GOC meeting the disciplinary panel heard that in the months prior to the offences there had been amendments to the NHS regulations. Thompson's forgeries allowed him to overclaim by £7,000 in the dozen specimen counts that had been made.

For the Council, Roderick Clarkson told the hearing that Thompson forged GOS1 forms, re-dating them for his own gain and claiming to have conducted sight tests when he had not performed them.

Thompson said he regretted his actions, and that he had no actual intention for financial gain in any of the offences. He presented a testimonial for his good character from a regional manager for a Midlands-based opticians group.

Announcing the panel's decision, committee chairman David Pyle said they considered Thompson's misdemeanours were a 'very serious offence'.

'We have taken into account your mitigating evidence presented orally to us, and the single written testimonial.

'However, your deliberate actions, ignoring NHS rules and regulations of which you were fully aware have led to illegal financial gain. This
resulted in the diversion of public funds intended for NHS healthcare.

'Such activities would have led to a reduction in public confidence in the profession. We have therefore decided to issue an erasure order.'