**Disgraced Dentist’s Death Leaves Patients Chasing Answers Over Missing £1m**
The widow of a dentist who allegedly defrauded more than a hundred of his patients out of significant sums of money has spoken of her sympathy for those affected, as both authorities and former patients demand to know what happened to over £1 million in missing funds. The story, stretching from South Wales to Western Australia, has left a community in shock and scores of dental patients seeking both financial compensation and medical resolution.
Dr David Hurst, originally from Dinas Powys in the Vale of Glamorgan, was convicted of fraud in 2012 for offences committed while working within the NHS in Wales. Following his conviction, Dr Hurst and his wife, Dr Clara Hurst, relocated to Australia, where he established a dental surgery in Perth. It is here that his alleged misconduct resurfaced, culminating in the sudden death of Dr Hurst at 43 years old last December, which left his business in turmoil and patients seeking answers about their lost money.
Wales Online previously reported allegations that Dr Hurst, the sole director of the Perth Dental Rooms, withdrew substantial funds from the clinic — reportedly exceeding the company’s legitimate profits. Liquidators’ documents indicate that £1.12 million, primarily derived from patients’ prepayments, was taken, alongside debts totalling £1.67 million owed to unsecured creditors.
Legal representatives now acting for former patients describe a trail of distress and anxiety. Slater and Gordon, an Australian law firm, represents 20 individuals who say they were encouraged to access their retirement pensions to pay for costly dental treatments that never materialised, with some claiming losses of up to £33,000 each. The law firm argues these patients fell victim to persuasive and sometimes aggressive social media marketing, which promised advanced dental procedures but instead led to unfinished or unnecessary work.
Dr Clara Hurst, who operates an independent cosmetic clinic in Perth, has stepped forward as executor to her late husband’s estate. In a statement, she expressed her sorrow for those who had been left “in limbo” following her husband’s death. “I have diligently acted as the executor in informing all relevant parties of any potential claim,” she said. Dr Clara Hurst was also keen to clarify that her finances and those of her husband had been entirely separate for years, and that she had not received any funds from his insolvent estate.
The impact on patients has been severe. According to Sarah Marshman, a solicitor at Slater and Gordon, many former clients have been left in physical pain and significant financial hardship. “We’re seeing not just financial loss, but real emotional distress and ongoing pain caused by reckless, unfinished, and in some cases unnecessary dental work,” Marshman stated, echoing the stories of individuals dealing with broken implants, untended infections, and unresolved complications.
Adding to the confusion are claims — reported in The Sunday Times of Western Australia — that Dr Hurst operated under a strict policy requiring all advanced fees be paid up front, which may have left patients particularly vulnerable when the clinic’s finances unravelled. Legal representatives allege that Dr Hurst may have withdrawn as much as £3.39 million from Perth Dental Rooms prior to his death.
As the winds of legal action gather, Dr Clara Hurst faces her own wave of scrutiny, even as she seeks to shield her separate business from fallout. In her role as executor, she stated, “I have great sympathy for the patients who have been left untreated following my husband’s death, and hope the professionals handling his business can continue their work to recover value for them.”
Meanwhile, the dental clinic in Perth has attempted to reassure those still in need of care, promising a continued commitment to patient welfare. In a public statement issued shortly after Dr Hurst’s death, the practice said it was reaching out directly to those affected to ensure smooth transitions in treatment, while at the same time calling for understanding towards the Hurst family during this difficult period.
With more than 130 patients believed to be affected, legal teams continue to gather evidence in hopes of securing accountability and some restitution. The broader case, linking events from South Wales to Australia, stands as a stark reminder of the need for stringent oversight in private medical practice. Questions still loom over the ultimate destination of the missing funds — and whether former patients will ever see compensation for their losses.