A man dubbed the ‘Flying dentist’ was allowed to r

A man dubbed the ‘Flying dentist’ was allowed to resume practising despite misleading patients into taking expensive crowns instead of NHS treatment.

Part-time pilot Timothy Bamber’s dentistry career hit turbulence when he was found guilty of serious professional misconduct earlier this year.

But Mr Bamber escaped with just a warning at the General Dental Council in central London today (fri) despite the ‘fundamental breach of trust.

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Mr Bamber was nicknamed ‘the flying dentist’ because he also works as a pilot for Airtours.

Since he was found guilty of misconduct in May his performance as a dentist has been kept under review.

After reading testimonials on behalf of Mr Bamber the professional conduct committee gave Mr Bamber a formal warning.

But Trevor Griffiths, panel chairman told Mr Bamber, who is also a qualified ski instructor:

‘The committee express their disapproval.

‘ However, he added that no action would be taken to affect Bamber’s registration.

The GDC had heard how a great deal of Mr Bamber’s time has been occupied by a battle for custody of his child with his ex-wife.

Mr Bamber had admitted charging a pensioner, June Cooper, pnds stlg 225 for a private crown and other dental work, when she should have received NHS treatment.

The price of the most expensive NHS crown would have been just pnds stlg 63, the hearing was told.

Mr Bamber also demanded pnds stlg 170 to fit a private crown on jobless Felix Fearn.

Both Mr Fearn and Mrs Cooper thought the treatment was far too expensive and complained to their local health authority.

In May this year the President of the GDC, Professor Nairn Wilson, had told him: ‘The Committee is particularly concerned by the matters of which it has heard and wishes that Mr Bamber to be in no doubt that his conduct has fallen far short of the standard expected of a member of the dental profession.

‘The Committee views misleading patients as a breach of the fundamental relationship of trust which must exist between practitioner and patient.

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Then the committee had warned Mr Bamber to improve the management of his practice and his patient communication skills before today’s hearing.

Mr George Hugh-Jones, defending, had asked the nine-member disciplinary committee of the GDC to bear in mind that at the time of the offences, 1995, Mr Bamber was caught up in the custody battle.

Mr Hugh-Jones added that it was the policy of the dental practice at (205) Desborough Road, High Wycombe to fit crowns privately whenever possible, a fact displayed on the practice’s noticeboard.

The committee had heard that Mr Bamber had already been fined pnds stlg 400 for malpractice in the case of Mr Fearn and pnds stlg 1000 in respect of Mrs Cooper by Buckinghamshire Health Authority.

Mr Bamber also received a roasting for failing to turn up on either day of the two-day GDC hearing in May or for previous disciplinary hearings held by the Buckinghamshire Health Authority.

Mr Bamber, of Giles House, Cokes Lane, Chalfont-Saint-Giles, Bucks was found guilty of failing to explain to Mr Fearn in November 1995 that a crown would not be supplied under the NHS, and for demanding fees to which he was not entitled.

It was, however, ‘not proven’ that he had given Mr Fearn incorrect information.

In relation to Mrs Cooper, Mr Bamber admitted that between May and November 1995 he failed to provide her with a treatment plan, failed to explain clearly that the treatment he was giving would not be provided under the NHS.

He also admitted that he failed to obtain Mrs Cooper’s consent before providing the crown privately.

Mr Bamber admitted not providing the records for four dates and he accepted that he failed to obtain Mrs Cooper’s consent before fitting her with the crown.

He was also found guilty of receiving fees of pnds stlg 225 to which he was not entitled.

Mr Bamber further admitted failing to supply dental records in relation to another patient – referred to simply as patient K – on three dates in 1993.

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