Student supervision case gets under way

A GOC fitness to practise hearing involving Boots Opticians, a registered student DO and a Boots-employed DO to consider allegations of inappropriate supervision arrangements got under way this week as Optician went to press.

The inquiry, which commenced on Monday, is based on allegations submitted by the Council that Boots Opticians is guilty of misconduct as it did not take reasonable steps to ensure appropriate supervision for its employee - student DO Trevor Burgess - between September 29 2005 and January 31 2007.

It is further alleged that on October 8 2005 and December 24 2005, the multiple did not take reasonable and proportionate steps to prevent the dispense by Burgess of spectacles to a patient, who was under the age of 16 years, without proper supervision by a registered optometrist or a registered DO.