A CUMNOCK dentist who sparked an HIV scare among 6,000 patients has admitted falsifying invoices for equipment to inspectors looking into decontamination procedures at his practices.

Alan Morrison is said to have used contaminated equipment on patients at his clinics in Cumnock and Drongan for almost a year.

The dentist allegedly put 6,000 patients at risk of contracting HIV by using dirty instruments and not using clean gloves.

Morrison later claimed that missing documents had been damaged in a flood and is alleged to have been part of an extensive cover up with two other staff members.

The dentist has admitted falsifying invoices for medical supplies to health investigators looking into his practices’ decontamination procedures.

He appeared before a General Dental Council tribunal yesterday (Tuesday) with practice manager Lorraine Kelly and dental nurse Dawn Grant. Kelly and Grant, who are both absent from proceedings, have yet to respond to the charges against them.

Thousands of patients were sent letters informing them that they may have contracted HIV as a result of having treatment at Morrison’s Millbank Dental Surgery and Drongan Dental Surgery.

Morrison allegedly re-used tooth mould impression trays, used unsterilised drill bits and re-using matrix bands, metal strips which wrap around teeth.

It is claimed the dentist claimed some documentation may be with his accountant yet he was unable to remember the accountant’s name or address.

Health inspectors from NHS Ayrshire and Arran supposedly found scaling equipment and amalgam gums for filling which were not cleaned.

The inspectors requested invoices for a number of single-use items such as surgical gloves but Morrison was not able to provide them.

Morrison has admitted later falsifying invoices for items including matrix bands and presenting them to investigators as valid.

Kelly is also accused of threatening a would-be whistleblower nurse who didn’t want to be involved in the cover up, telling the nurse ‘her day will come’.

Morrison, Kelly and Grant are all accused of failing to adhere to infection control guidelines and of being dishonest during the health investigation.

Morrison was previously struck off the register in 2005 for putting a patient in Kilmarnock prison’s life at risk.

He has since been reinstated but has had to do so under 18 practice conditions since these allegations came to light.

David Bradly, for the GDC, said: ‘Mr Morrison, it is alleged, failed to ensure that his staff were acting on the right procedures and failed to act on those procedures himself.

Mr Bradly also claimed that Kelly had telephoned a former member of staff who might speak to the health board about issues of practice and then alleging threatening another staff member.

Morrison, who is present at the hearing, has admitted providing NHS Ayrshire & Arran with falsified invoices regarding medical supplies and being the principle dentist at Millbank Dental Surgery but has denied all the other charges against him.

The hearing continues.