Dentist faces being struck off after flouting hygiene regulations
A dentist from Sheffield could be struck off after it was revealed that he flouted hygiene regulations in order to maximise profits.
Mohammed Siddiqui, from High Green, may lose his right to practice after it was found that he used old syringes and rusty instruments and examined and treated patients without wearing gloves at his surgery in Rotherham.
At a Primary Health Lists appeal tribunal, it was revealed that Mr Siddiqui had consistently flouted hygiene regulations and had no infection control policy in place; he actively discouraged the use of gloves and the surgery was littered with filthy rags and old scrubbing brushes and cleaning equipment. Investigators also said that the sterilisation equipment was “caked” in dirt and was clearly not being used.
Last April, the dentist received a letter from Rotherham Primary Care Trust saying that his dental surgery needed a thorough clean. However, he failed to clean the surgery properly and tried to blame staff when investigators visited the practice a month later.
Andrew Hockton, who was speaking on behalf of Rotheram PCT, said that the dentist had showed a complete lack of regard for his staff and patients and had consistently broken the rules in order to benefit his bank balance. Mr Hockton recommended that Siddiqui be removed from the register.
In defence of Mohammed Siddiqui, lawyer Paul Spencer said that his client had become stressed and ill because he was working too hard. He had placed a number of advertisements for staff but had failed to recruit another dentist to help at the practice.
The tribunal may decide to ban Siddiqui from practising in Rotherham for the next five years and a separate investigation by the General Dental Council could strike him off the register; the tribunal will make a decision within the next two weeks and the GDC will announce a final decision next year.
Join this Discussion