Dental nurse made up fake patient names to steal thousands from practice

Dental nurse made up fake patient names to steal thousands from practiceA dental nurse fabricated fake patient names in a bid to steal thousands of pounds from her employer.

The dental professional created almost 100 fake refund transactions into her own bank account while working as a practice manager in Wales.

The tribunal heard that the individual worked as a practice manager at two dental practices in Colwyn Bay and Rhyl.

Taking place between September 2018 and July 2020 she stole more than £60,000 in total.

As a result, the dental nurse has been struck off the General Dental Council (GDC) register. They concluded that she demonstrated: ‘Deliberate, persistent, and dishonest conduct and a complete disregard for the regulatory process’.

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Undermined

Allowing the dental nurse to remain registered would, according to the report ‘seriously undermine’ public confidence in dentistry.

They also stated that she used ‘sophisticated methods’ of fraud over the period of two years.

Her suspension followed her refusal to cooperate with the GDC investigation by failing to provide employment and indemnity details. According to the tribunal reports, she also only admitted to the fraud once she was presented with evidence.

In January 2021, she was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years. She was also instructed to undertake 250 hours of unpaid work and was slapped with a six-month curfew order.

The report added: ‘Erasure is the only sanction that would appropriately address the misconduct in this case. [It sends] the public and the profession a clear message about the standards expected of a dental nurse.’


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