GOC erases Helensburgh based optometrist

The General Optical Council (GOC), the UK regulator for optometrists and dispensing opticians, has decided to erase Malcolm Craig, an optometrist based in Helensburgh, Scotland from its register. He will now be unable to practise as an optometrist in the UK.

A GOC Fitness to Practise Committee found his fitness to practise impaired by reason of misconduct relating to the Registrant’s failure to adequately assess patients and maintain an adequate standard of record keeping.

In making the decision, the Committee, chaired by Pamela Ormerod, said:

"The Committee concluded that there is a real risk of the Registrant repeating his errors in the future, and that his persistent and basic clinical failings would adversely affect public confidence in the profession.

"The Committee further concluded that the Registrant has breached a fundamental tenet of his profession, in that he has failed to ensure that he operates in an environment where patient wellbeing is paramount. Therefore, the Committee finds that the Registrant’s fitness to practise is currently impaired.

"The Committee concluded that the Registrant’s misconduct is incompatible with being a registered professional and he should therefore be erased from the Register. The Committee determined an immediate order of suspension is required for public protection and public interest purposes."

Mr Craig has until 12 February 2019 to appeal his erasure, during which time he is suspended from the register under an immediate suspension order.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The full determination is available on our past hearings page
2. A full transcript of the hearing is available on request and payment of an administration charge.
3. Read our guide to the FTP process
4. The registrant’s date of most recent registration with the GOC as an optometrist was 16 January 1976. His GOC registration number is 01-9298. His last registered contact address was in Helensburgh, Scotland.

For media enquiries please contact:

GOC Communications Team

General Optical Council

t: 020 7580 3898 (option 3)

e: communications@optical.org

About the General Optical Council:

The GOC is the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. Its purpose is to protect the public by promoting high standards of education, performance and conduct amongst opticians. The Council currently registers around 30,000 optometrists, dispensing opticians, student opticians and optical businesses.