City dentist suspended
ONE of Scotland’s highest paid dentists has been suspended for misconduct.
The Glasgow dentist, who was earning more than £150,000, claimed NHS costs for a private patient and employed a dental nurse who was not registered to practice.
A GLASGOW dentist earning more than £150,000 a year has been suspended for making false claims to the NHS and clinical failures involving 33 patients.
Alan McClure, who was rated amongst Scotland’s highest-paid dentists, submitted numerous inaccurate claims at Partick Dental Practice over a period of six years.
Dr McClure, 49, appeared before the General Dental Council in London to face charges of misconduct and ten were found proved.
The dentist, who was on a salary of £154,000 four years ago on Scotland’s dental “rich list”, failed to gain proper consent to sedate a patient, which two independent experts said was “serious and fell far below the standard expected”.
He also employed a woman as a dental nurse who was not yet registered to practise.
Dr McClure, who is listed as associate director of the practice, now run by Bupa, in Dumbarton Road, claimed NHS costs for treatment for a patient who was on a private plan and split courses of treatment into separate claims.
While the GDC said there was “limited financial gain,” involved, it said: “This may have been to avoid seeking prior approval and thus the possibility of approval being refused and possible scrutiny by Dental Reference Officers.”
The Clarkston-based dentist also carried out costlier, private treatments and claimed for NHS procedures, “to please his patients.”
Claims were submitted for extended treatment to prevent gum disease in six patients, which had had not been provided, which the GDC said, was “misleading and dishonest”.
Other charges relate to failing to maintain an “adequate” standard of patient records, including checks for oral cancer, medical histories and a discussion of treatment options, as well as justifying why X-rays had been carried out
he GDC said: “The committee takes a serious view of Mr McClure’s misleading and dishonest conduct.
“It involved a number of patients and was a sustained pattern of behaviour over a period of some six years. This dishonest conduct amounted to a breach of trust.
“In addition to the clinical failings, Mr McClure employed Witness 1, an unregistered person, as a dental nurse at the practice.”
The hearing was told Mr McClure had expressed remorse for his actions and had “fully addressed his shortcomings”.
He was suspended forTa period of nine months, which will be reviewed in November.