Dr David Hurst was handed a suspended jail term in 2012 after admitting 69 counts of theft from the NHS. He then moved to Australia where he continued to run a dental clinic
A dentist who was previously convicted of defrauding the NHS has died in Australia, leaving behind a trail of financial chaos.
Dr David Hurst, hailing from Wales, received a suspended sentence in 2012 after pleading guilty to 69 theft charges against the NHS. Cardiff Crown Court learned that he had nicked £15,584 by submitting fraudulent patient claims while working at Bridgend Dental Centre on Nolton Street. It has now been revealed that Dr Hurst took his own life last December at age 43, supposedly leaving behind his dental practice in Perth, Australia in financial turmoil, with 132 patients left untreated and “in limbo”.
Acting as the sole director of Perth Dental Rooms, it seems he appeared to have withdrawn “significant funds from the company in excess of profits earned”, according to liquidator Bryan Hughes’ statement to the Sunday Times. Allegations claim that Dr Hurst pocketed 2.3m Australian dollars (£1.12m) in patient prepayments, and unsecured creditors are apparently out of pocket to the tune of £1,676,578.
The scandal has sparked debate over Dr Hurst’s role at an Aussie dental clinic given his past conviction in the UK. Despite an NHS probe into the Bridgend scam kicking off in February 2007, it wasn’t until late 2012 that he faced sentencing, reports Wales Online.
The General Dental Council informed WalesOnline that Dr Hurst was hauled before a professional conduct committee in January 2014 and by the following month, he was struck off from practising dentistry in the UK.
Dr Hurst is said to have resided in Australia from 2009 to 2012 before settling there permanently in 2013. Dental registration applicants Down Under must declare any criminal history, yet the nation’s health watchdog clammed up to the Sunday Times about whether they were clued in on Dr Hurst’s conviction at the time of his re-registration in 2013.
“Dr Hurst was first registered in Australia in 2009 by Queensland authorities,” a spokesperson for the Australian regulator disclosed. “He was re-registered by the dental board of Australia in 2013 when he returned to Australia from the United Kingdom. At the time Dr Hurst applied for registration he was still registered as a dentist in the UK.”
During the trial in Wales, it emerged that Dr Hurst had submitted a raft of bogus band three claims – the priciest bracket for NHS dental work – from June 2006 to February 2007. He coughed up the full £15,584 to the NHS and shelled out an additional £12,991 towards legal fees.
He was handed a 10-month suspended sentence and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work after being found guilty of defrauding the NHS. Judge Nicholas Gareth Jones issued a stern warning, saying: “Milking the NHS will not be tolerated, particularly when NHS public funding is stretched.”
The Sunday Times reports Dr Hurst demanded payment in advance from all his Perth-based patients, with some shelling out thousands for implants and other costly treatments last year. Following the company’s downfall, these individuals now face the prospect of paying again, amidst reports of enduring severe pain for months.
Mr Hughes lamented the widespread impact of the debacle, stating: “There are just victims everywhere you look in this horrible mess,” and highlighted the significant financial shortfall caused by the premature use of patient prepayments.
Liquidators report that Dr Hurst withdrew £2m from the business over the last 18 months, while profits were recorded at £1.31m. The company’s total debt is estimated at around £2.34m.
Despite Mr Hughes’ admission of being in the dark about the whereabouts of the funds, he suggested that a bankruptcy trustee might be able to track down the money. As the practice transitions to new ownership, there is hope for some recovery from the sale proceeds.
However, as unsecured creditors, the fate of the patients’ refunds remains uncertain, with the Sunday Times indicating that their chances of recouping any losses are unclear.
Perth Dental Rooms released a heartfelt statement last December, saying: “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of our beloved principal dentist and owner David Hurst. His unwavering dedication to our patients and the practice has left a lasting impact and he will be profoundly missed by all who knew him.
“We want to assure our valued patients that Perth Dental Rooms will continue to operate and our commitment to providing exceptional dental care remains our highest priority. For those currently receiving treatment from Dr Hurst we will be reaching out to you directly to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of care. We kindly ask that you keep the Hurst family in your thoughts and prayers.”
If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch
