Local dentist suspended over concerns for public safety

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A local dentist has been suspended for 18 months in order to protect the public, following a number of serious complaints from her patients who claim to have paid her thousands of pounds.

The Interim Orders Committee decided to impose an interim order of suspension on Dr Beatrice Luciola of Alderley Edge, who practised at her Knutsford premises on Bexton Road for over 5 years.

The General Dentist Council received complaints between February 2018 and April 2018 from a number of Ms Luciola's patients, or parents of patients, concerning the provision of orthodontic dental treatment at Beyond Dental Care in Knutsford.

They have complained that Ms Luciola took advance payment in the sum of several thousand pounds for orthodontic dental treatment from them without starting and/or completing the treatment. Some of the patients also alleged that Ms Luciola provided poor orthodontic treatment, leaving them, or their children, in pain and discomfort and having to pay more money to have the treatment corrected elsewhere.

Some of the patients also allege that Ms Luciola did not respond to correspondence or telephone calls from them regarding their treatment and that she failed to compensate or refund them for treatment that had been paid for but not started or completed.

Further, it is alleged that in some instances Ms Luciola continued to receive payment from patients for treatment at a time when the payment of her rent for the Practice was in arrears, and after her lease was terminated.

Sarah from Warrington, who was a patient of Dr Luciola's since 2016, said "What I find remarkable is that Beatrice was allowed to practise for over five years and was never once inspected by the Care Quality Commission. If they had visited her they would've known that she was working alone which is illegal. I often visited the practise late at night when it was just the two of us - no dental nurse, no receptionist, nothing! It's not just that she took money from us and disappeared its more that we have a system that allows people to do this and there is nothing to stop other orthodontists doing exactly the same thing in the future - set up a practice, take lots of money and when you're ready leave the country. It just seems so unfair. The fact that she's lost her registration to practise in the UK is a small victory but it does nothing to stop her practising in Kenya and harming patients there."

On Tuesday, 15th May, the General Dental Council's Interim Orders Committee gave Dr Luciola a penalty of 18 months suspension while the investigation into her conduct continues. Additionally, Cheshire East Council's Trading Standards Team is carrying out an investigation into a number of complaints it has received from patients.

The decision paper issued by The Interim Orders Committee states "In the Committee's view, there is a real risk of significant harm to patients if Ms Luciola were to practise as a dentist without there being some restriction on her registration. It further considers that the public interest is engaged, given the serious nature of the allegations.

"Accordingly, the Committee is satisfied that it is necessary for the protection of the public and is otherwise in the public interest that Ms Luciola's registration be subject to an interim order in accordance with Section 32(4) of the Dentists Act 1984."

Ms Luciola was not present at the hearing on Tuesday, 15th May. The order will be reviewed in six months, or may be reviewed earlier if so requested by either party.

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