UK dentist who defrauded the NHS went on to run a clinic in Australia where he allegedly extracted millions in patient prepayments before killing himself

In 2012, Welsh born Dr David Hurst, 43, was handed a suspended jail term and ordered to make restitution, after admitting 69 counts of theft from the National Health Service

Before his suicide in December Hurst allegedly siphoned $4.63 million USD, [$7.1million AUD], from his dental practice, in Perth leaving the business insolvent and leaving over 130 patients without care

The dentist reportedly, had insisted patients prepay for treatment, before he siphoned the money from the business

Massive fraud in his adoptive country raises the question of how a disgraced UK dentist was allowed to head an Australian dental clinic, despite his prior fraud conviction back home

The timeline between, has the NHS fraud investigation kicking off in 2007and sentencing 201 overlaps the period of his registering a dental practice in Perth, Australia

Welsh born dentist Dr David Hurst [photo], 43, died by suicide last December, allegedly leaving his Perth dental practice in a dire financial state with 132 untreated patients without hope or care. He reportedly demanded pre-payment, then siphoned the money from the business

A Welsh dentist who defrauded the NHS went on to run a clinic in Australia where he allegedly extracted large sums in patient prepayments before his death.
Dr David Hurst, 43, died by suicide last December allegedly leaving his Perth dental practice in a dire financial state with 132 untreated patients scrambling for replacement care.
Hurst the sole director of the practice, reportedly, had siphoned $4.63 million USD, [$7.1million AUD], from his dental practice, in Perth leaving the business insolvent, and about 132 patients without care.
Hurst reportedly, insisted all his Perth patients paid their fees up front. Some paid tens of thousands for implants and other expensive procedures last year but now face having to fork out again because of the company’s collapse. Several have spoken out about struggling with severe pain for months.
Hurst from Dinas Powys in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, emigrated to Australia with his family after he was handed a suspended jail term in 2012. He had been convicted after admitting 69 counts of theft from the Britain’s National health Service, [NHS].
At the time the Cardiff Crown Court heard that he defrauded the NHS of $21,107 [£15,584], by submitting claims containing forged patient declarations. Following his conviction in Wales, Hurst was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years and 200 hours of community work. He was also ordered to pay back $21,107 to the NHS with a further $17,595 in legal costs.
For his Australian caper Hurst withdrew “significant funds from the company in excess of profits earned”, the liquidator said.

The scam in his adoptive country raises the issue of how Hurst [photo], was allowed to head an Australian dental clinic, despite his fraud conviction. The investigation and disbarring in UK overlaps the period when he made his relocation to Australia permanent

This massive fraud in his adoptive country raises the question of how a disgraced UK dentist was allowed to head an Australian dental clinic, despite his prior fraud conviction back home, since the period of investigation and disbarring overlaps the time frame when Dr Hurst who reportedly shuttled to Australia between 2009 and 2012, made the move permanent in 2013.
The timeline, has the NHS fraud investigation kicking off in February 2007, although Hurst was not sentenced until late 2012. Two years later, he appeared before a professional conduct committee of the UK General Dental Council [GDC], in January 2014.
A month later Dr. Hurst was barred from practicing as a dentist in UK.
The period of investigation and disbarring overlaps the time frame when Dr Hurst who reportedly shuttled to Australia between 2009 and 2012, made the move permanent in 2013.
The process of applying to practice dentistry in Australia requires applicants to disclose their criminal history to the country’s healthcare regulator, meaning Dr Hurst’s conviction should have been unearthed when he re-registered in 2013.
Addressing the controversy the Australian regulator has said that Dr Hurst was first registered in Australia in 2009 by Queensland authorities. Furthermore, “He [Hurst], was re-registered by the dental board of Australia in 2013, when he returned to Australia from the United Kingdom. At the time Dr Hurst applied for registration he was still registered as a dentist in the UK.”