Urinating dentist in ban appeal

Mr Hutchinson is alleged to have used instruments to clean his ears

A dentist found guilty of urinating in a surgery sink and other unhygienic practices has started a High Court appeal to save his career.

Alan Hutchinson, who worked at Branch Road Dental Practice in Batley, was struck off the register after a General Dental Council tribunal last April.

He was also found guilty of using dental instruments to clean his ears and fingernails.

Mr Hutchinson has asked a judge to rule that he was denied a fair trial.

He denied all the charges against him except allegations of routinely not wearing gloves, due to a latex allergy.

Urine smell

Robert Francis QC, for Mr Hutchinson, argued the evidence against the dentist was "inconsistent and incredible" and should never have been accepted by the council's professional conduct committee.

Mr Francis also argued that erasing Mr Hutchinson's name from the register was "disproportionate", and that suspension for a period, subject to review, would have been adequate.

Dental nurse Claire Pygott told April's disciplinary hearing how she could smell urine coming from the sink at the surgery.

She said she smelt the urine seconds after seeing Mr Hutchinson "tucking something" into his trousers before seeing a patient in March last year.

His lack of hygiene was revealed after a complaint was made by a patient.

'Improbable allegations'

The unnamed woman told North Kirklees Primary Care Trust that he had refused to wear gloves while removing her wisdom tooth.

Ms Pygott, who had worked with Mr Hutchinson for 16 years, told the tribunal she was too embarrassed to raise the matter with her employer and described him as "a very intimidating and manipulative man".

Mr Hutchinson had claimed he had been "cleaning his teeth" at the sink as part of his normal routine before treating people.

At the High Court appeal in London, Mr Francis said the evidence against the dentist did not support the findings made by the committee and there had been an abuse of process.

He said: "These are inherently all improbable allegations. They are findings that at the very least are unsafe, if not perverse."

The appeal continues.