Retired OO is struck off

An optometrist who visited care homes in Northern Ireland but failed to carry out proper tests for more than 120 'high risk' patients during a period of 'several weeks', has been struck off after a GOC disciplinary hearing.

Arthur Rowley Taylor, of Stevenston, near Kilmarnock, Scotland, who was working as a locum for Cando Visiting Eyecare from February 2003 to August 2005, had earlier admitted allegations of failing to maintain adequate patient records and failing to conduct assessments of intraocular pressures.

The GOC disciplinary committee hearing, held in central London last week, was told that Taylor, who has now ceased practising, also admitted that these failures over a period from July 1 2005 to August 31 2005 amounted to a 'deficient professional performance'.