North Yorks podiatrist struck off.

A North Yorkshire podiatrist, Simon C Valente has, been struck off the HCPC Register for misconduct after ‘persistent failings and a reckless disregard’ of the need to keep proper records of patient assessments and care following home visits.

A panel of the HCPC Conduct and Competence Committee heard that concerns about home visits carried out by Mr Valente, while he was employed by Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, were raised in February 2013.

A review of his files found that, in many cases, handwritten notes and records on the electronic patient database completed by Mr Valente did not match.

The Panel further heard evidence from Mr Valente’s colleague that he did not give her a verbal handover of any of his cases, either when she first started looking at them in January and February 2013, or in late April when she took over clinical management of the patients.

Panel chair, Sarah Baalham, said: "Mr Valente’s failings are serious, cover fundamental aspects of podiatry, took place over an extended period of time, and involved patients who had high-risk foot conditions.

"These shortcomings had the effect that patients were put at risk of harm. The Panel has received no evidence from Mr Valente of how he may have remediated the shortcomings identified by the findings."

The Panel decided the most proportionate sanction was to strike Simon C Valente’s name from the Register.