A DENTIST from York has admitted swindling the NHS out of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money.

David Russell Girdham, whose address was given as Ste Imoges, Great Ouseburn, and who practises at the Fountain Dental Practice, in St James's Square, Boroughbridge, appeared yesterday before the Professional Conduct Committee of the General Dental Council.

He admitted siphoning off £2,040 in inappropriate claims and £635 worth of false claims.

All offences are said to have been committed while Girdham was working at the Boroughbridge surgery.

But he escaped being suspended or removed from practice, with the committee instead deciding to review his conduct for a year.

"The committee has decided to postpone determination of this case until its meeting in July 2003," said chairman Huw Mathewson.

Eighteen of the inappropriate charges related to claims for radiographs, colour photographs, fillings and sealants and even special extractions.

The council heard that some of the radiographs had never been taken, while claims for "extractions of special difficulty" were said to be intentionally misleading.

Some of the false claims were made with false signatures of patients, while others saw Girdham use a rubber stamp on forms that should have been signed.

A claim was made for emergency treatment on a patient who said it could not have happened as she had just had a baby, the hearing was told.

Mr Mathewson said: "The committee is particularly concerned by the matters which it has heard and wishes you to be in no doubt that your conduct has fallen far short of the standard expected of a member of the dental profession.

"Both the profession and the public expect high standards of conduct from Dentists. Submitting false claims which result in the receipt of fees under the NHS regulations, is dishonest and must be regarded as a most serious breach of professional conduct.

"The committee has considered carefully whether your name should be erased from the Dentists' Register or whether your registration should be suspended."

Ms Sarah Vaughan-Jones, for the General Dental Council, said: "There is an onus on the dentist to check any claims he has made and make sure they are appropriate.

"The claims he gives for NHS patients are based on a relationship of trust, and those claims should therefore be trustworthy."

The Evening Press was unable to contact Girdham for comment today.

Updated: 11:57 Wednesday, July 17, 2002