A CHIROPODIST has been struck off after treating hundreds of patients in North Yorkshire with unsterilised instruments.

Kevin White, 43, of Meadow Drive, Thorpe Willoughby, near Selby, was caught out by a manager investigating his failure to visit patients.

In his absence, the Chiropodists Board, sitting yesterday in London, found Mr White guilty of "infamous conduct" over two allegations of failure to sterilise chiropody instruments, on March 13, 2001, at Sherburn-in-Elmet, and between June 14, 2000 and June 6, 2001, and ordered his name to be erased from the register.

Mr White was cleared of four allegations of failing to provide chiropody care when required to do so.

Chairman of the board, Ramon Ariori, said the board suggested Mr White attend a sterilisation course before making an application for restoration.

But he also expressed concern over Selby and York NHS Trust's failure to monitor the adequate supply of sterile instruments, and urged it to review its procedures.

The hearing heard that trust manager Robin Hull arrived at the Sherburn-in-Elmet clinic to find Mr White carrying out the afternoon list, although he had completed the morning's work of eight patients with only three sets of instruments.

Mr White was immediately suspended, leaving a queue of patients untreated, before investigations revealed that 235 patients had been treated with unsterilised utensils in a nine-month period.

Mr Hull said Mr White made home visits on Mondays, saw patients in Sherburn-in-Elmet on Tuesdays and worked at the Raincliffe Street Clinic, Selby, where he was based for the rest of the week.

"As a result of information, I visited Raincliffe Street clinic on March 13, 2001, because we were looking at time-keeping.

"Five sets of instruments were in boxes. All the chiropodists should have a minimum of six sets."

Further investigations revealed Mr White had seen eight patients in the morning, and that between June 20, 2000 to March 6, 2001, the steriliser had only been used seven times.

Mr White began working for the York Health Authority in 1979, after qualifying.

Trust chiropodist manager John Mandziuk said Mr White would have received six sets of instruments in 1991, but could not recall him asking for any additional sets.

Mr White was today unavailable for comment.

Updated: 11:46 Tuesday, January 15, 2002