An optometrist suspended for 12 months after practising and claiming for NHS GOS1 forms while unregistered has been told by the General Optical Council that his fitness to practise is no longer impaired.
Kenneth Hosgood was suspended in January 2013 after a fitness to practise committee heard that he was removed from the register of optometrists in April 2009 after failing to pay his retention fee by the March 31 deadline.
He was reinstated on April 6 2009 but the committee alleged that he performed sight tests while not on the register and subsequently claimed for NHS fees – which were then rejected by the NHS Shared Business Services. It was further alleged that Hosgood resubmitted claims forms and changed dates to those when he was on the register.
The substantive review hearing heard that Hosgood had not practised since 2010 and remained in retirement.