Former Specsavers optometrist, [Name], has been found guilty of professional misconduct. The announcement was made by the [name of regulatory board] after an investigation into several allegations of substandard practice. [Name] who had previously been employed by Specsavers was found guilty of breaching several codes of conduct in relation to patient care. The verdict has come as a blow to the optometry profession, and is likely to heighten concerns among patients about the quality of care they receive. BreakingNews.ie has learned more about the investigation and its implications for the industry.
An investigation by the regulatory body of health and social care professionals, CORU, found that Nagesh Puranik, an optometrist who had worked at two Specsavers branches in Cork, was guilty of professional misconduct. The inquiry found that he failed to inform his employers that he had not tested eyes in over 10 years, contrary to what was claimed on his CV. Puranik was also found guilty of reviewing images of clients’ retinas when he had not received the necessary training to assess such images. In addition, the inquiry upheld 35 allegations of poor professional performance against Puranik that related to the treatment of over 30 clients during his less than one-month tenure at Mallow and Midleton branches in 2022. Puranik, an Indian national who joined Specsavers in early 2022, resigned after less than a month in the job. The committee’s chairperson, Geraldine Feeney, criticized Puranik for submitting a false CV and not disclosing his lack of relevant experience during the recruitment process, compromising the health, safety and welfare of all clients he saw. Feeney also stated that Puranik’s failings constituted a breach of the professional optometrists’ code to act in the best interest of their clients. The inquiry found 11 allegations proven that Puranik had failed to conduct adequate eye examinations. It also found Puranik guilty of failing to detect or diagnose clinical issues in five cases and failing to refer clients for further appropriate treatment in four cases. The inquiry lasted five days and was held in 2021. At the inquiry, concerns arose about Puranik’s competence due to the speed at which he conducted eye tests, which was much faster than normal. Puranik’s clients also had very few new prescriptions. The inquiry heard the allegations related to 19 of 121 clients seen by Puranik in Mallow and 12 of 28 clients seen by him in Midleton. All affected clients had been recalled for a re-examination by Specsavers. Due to the seriousness of Puranik’s failings, the committee gave both CORU and Puranik time to make written submissions on the sanction that it should recommend.
It is a sad reality that some professionals in the medical field abuse the trust of their patients. For former Specsavers optometrist Alan Pratt, his case serves as a reminder of the importance of practicing with integrity and upholding professional standards. We hope that this verdict sends a clear message to all healthcare practitioners that their duty of care towards their patients is sacrosanct and that they will be held accountable for any breaches of that duty. The trust and safety of patients must always come first, and we must do everything we can to ensure that this remains the case.
