A DENTIST was last night struck off after using dental instruments to clean his fingernails and ears and urinating into a surgical sink.
Alan Hutchinson, 51, was found by the General Dental Council to have acted in an inappropriate and unprofessional way, contrary to the best interests of patients at his Batley practice.
Chairman of the committee Colin Smith said : "Given the seriousness of your disregard of cross infection control issues and the pattern of behaviour that has evolved over the years and the fact that this behaviour is very damaging to public confidence in the profession, the ultimate sanction of erasure is the appropriate and proportionate outcome."
The hearing in central London heard how the father of three used unhygienic practises, including probing his ears and cleaning his fingernails with sterilised tools, refusing to routinely wear gloves and urinating in the sink at his surgery in Batley
Dental nurse Claire Pygott had told the hearing at Central London how she could smell urine coming from a sink at the surgery.
She said she smelt it seconds after seeing Mr Hutchinson "tucking something" into his trousers before seeing a patient in March last year.
Mr Hutchinson had denied the charges against him except allegations of not routinely wearing gloves.
He told the hearing that for most of his career he had not always used gloves while treating patients due to a latex allergy, a practice that he said he regretted".
Mr Hutchinson's lack of hygiene while carrying out treatment was revealed after a complaint was made by a patient last year.
The unnamed woman, whose family also used the surgery told North Kirklees Primary Care Trust that he had refused to wear gloves while removing her wisdom tooth.
When staff and other patients were routinely interviewed as part of the investigation into the woman's claims further allegations were made.
During submissions for Mr Hutchinson's defence, the hearing was told how he is a well known figure in the community who has been involved in raising tens of thousands of pounds for good causes at home and abroad.
Peter Wilkinson, of Bradford, gave character evidence for Mr Hutchinson praising his "integrity" and "drive", especially in charitable matters.
He told of Mr Hutchinson's organisation of visits to Shakespearean festivals and classical concerts. He told how Mr Hutchinson helped raise £17,000 with a charity concert involving an Abba tribute group, donated to a local children's hospice and the emergency services.
"It was absolutely fantastic," Mr Wilkinson said. He said the charity work "took up a tremendous amount of his time".
He described Mr Hutchinson as "a man of great integrity and professionalism". He added: "He is very, very well known in the area and I've never, ever heard anybody to have a bad word to say about him either socially or professionally."
Simon Cridland, in defence of Mr Hutchinson, said he had been involved in charity work since his 20s, including round table and rotary club work.
He has also organised a Last Night of the Proms concert and a Queen tribute band event, for which he hopes to raise over £20,000.
Mr Hutchinson has also worked for the healthcare of Bosnian refugees, has 10,000 pencils at his home in anticipation of a charity trip to Africa and has provided vital equipment for a school in the Atlas mountains.
