NI GP Pharmacist Suspended for Dishonest Prescribing of Tramadol to Family and Friends

Allegations

This case involved a General Practice Pharmacist who misused her professional role as an Independent Prescriber over a sustained period to prescribe and facilitate the supply of Tramadol (marketed as Maxitram), a Schedule 3/Class C controlled drug, without clinical justification. The misconduct primarily benefitted individuals with whom the registrant had personal relationships—her partner, family members, and close friends.

The investigation revealed that she had issued over 20 unauthorised prescriptions, engaged in deliberate deletion and cancellation of records, and accessed GP systems using other staff members’ login credentials to conceal her actions. The prescribing patterns often occurred while she was off duty, including occasions where the practice was closed, and lacked appropriate documentation or GP authorisation. Notably, some prescriptions that were supposedly cancelled or deleted were found to have been dispensed and submitted for reimbursement.