A TOWN centre dentist - with a perfect record - is battling to save his reputation . . because a den (From Warrington Guardian)

A TOWN centre dentist - with a perfect record - is battling to save his reputation . . because a den

Richard Meggitt, of Witton Street Dental Practice, says he and his wife Carole have endured a tough time - because they share the same name as orthodontist Melvin Megitt who is making national headlines.

Mr Meggitt said: "It is a difficult time for us - but we're fairly hopeful that people will realise it's not us."

Altrincham-based Melvin Megitt faces an inquiry by the dental council over allegations that he made false claims about work he had carried out on his patients.

The story has appeared on both BBC North West and Granada News, and in the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph newspapers.

But some people have been confused and wrongly thought the story referred to Northwich's dentist Mr Meggitt.

Mr Meggitt was alerted last Wednesday, after the story first appeared.

"Many of my staff were saying they had heard people asking if it was me," he added. "Obviously that's bad for business, and for prospective patients. We are going to become a private practice this year, and in a highly-competitive field this is the last thing we want."

But he added that things were worse for his wife.

"Carole works at Christie Hospital, and of course the people there know even less about me - they just knew that Carole's husband was a dentist called Meggitt. They told her they thought it was us, which isn't a nice thing to hear when you're not involved at all."

Mr Meggitt has practised in Northwich for 22 years. He says he's relying on the sympathy of the good friends he has made in that time, to see him and his wife through.

"Everyone who knows the truth has been very sympathetic, and I'm hoping this request to the Guardian will seal the matter, and help us out."

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