Optician sacked twice for sloppy work after being hired back by bungling bosses

Short-sighted bosses re­hired an optician who they’d sacked for sloppy work – then had to fire him again for the same failings.

Some 900 customers were recalled for tests after claims that optometrist Ross Hutcheson had not examined both eyes.

He lost his job as Specsavers’ branch director in Hartlepool, Co Durham, last October.

Specsavers re-employed him as a locum, under supervision, at nearby Washington, but in March fired him a second time after fresh ­concerns about his work.

A former colleague said at both branches he had shortened tests by looking at just one eye and mistakenly told patients, including kids, they didn’t need glasses.

Specsavers re-hired Hutcheson despite his obvious shortcomings (Getty)

The General Optical Council launched a probe after the original dismissal.

Specsavers said an anonymous ­customer told them Mr Hutcheson, 38, may not have been thorough.

The firm said: “The GOC was happy for Mr Hutcheson to continue practising under strict supervision.

“He was taken on as a locum at the Washington store in December and was allowed to practise in line with the GOC-imposed conditions.”