Boots Opticians has been fined ?30,000 by the General Optical Council over a lack of supervision given to a trainee at its Douglas store.

The fitness to practise committee of the GOC said the company hadn't taken reasonable steps to prevent the trainee from twice dispensing to a 14 year-old boy, without adequate supervision.

The trainee, who has since qualified, was found guilty of misconduct for providing spectacles to the boy, and was given a three year warning.

The committee said poor communication and accountability in the Manx branch was bound to affect public confidence.

Jason Roberts reports (text, below, from attached audio file):

The committee heard incorrect prescription details for the boy were put onto a computer system in 2005, but when the customer returned he was given a false explanation.

A second pair of glasses with the correct prescription was ordered, but no registered optometrist was in the practice that day.

It found Boots Opticians' fitness to carry on business to be impaired and said important professional obligations had been the subject of such poor communication.

Panel chair Margaret Hallendorf said to protect the public, the least possible financial sanction it could impose was ?30,000.