NI Superintendent Pharmacist Warned for Widespread Governance Failures at Belfast Pharmacy
Date of Decision: August 28, 2025
Registrant's Role: Pharmacist
Allegations:
- Failure to maintain the Pharmacy Record at Earlswood Pharmacy under the Medicines Act 1968 and Responsible Pharmacist Regulations.
- Absence of appropriate and accessible Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Lack of verifiable audit trails for delivery of medicinal products.
- Inadequate maintenance of Controlled Drug (CD) registers.
- Failure to conduct periodic stock audits of controlled drugs.
- Absence of a reliable near miss/error recording system.
- Inadequate record-keeping of extemporaneously prepared unlicensed medicines.
Outcome: Warning
GPhC Standards Breached:
- Standard 6 – Maintain clear and accurate records
- Standard 3 – Deliver safe and effective care
- Standard 1 – Provide person-centred care
- Standard 7 – Respect and maintain the person’s confidentiality and privacy (implied in record-handling deficiencies)
Case Summary
Allegations
This case concerns a series of serious governance and compliance failings by the registrant, who served as the superintendent pharmacist and majority shareholder of Chemcare (NI) Ltd, operating two pharmacies in Belfast. The allegations related specifically to Earlswood Pharmacy, which ceased operations in October 2021.
The Society alleged that, between 2018 and 2021, the registrant failed to ensure legal and professional standards across multiple key operational domains. Specific concerns included:
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- Full allegations considered by the GPhC
- Panel findings and reasoning
- Outcome of the investigation
- Sanctions considered and imposed on the Pharmacist
- Key professional learning points
Original Case Document
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The original determination transcript is available to registered users.
- Download the official GPhC determination
- Full hearing transcript
- Detailed findings of fact
- Sanction reasoning
- Details of the pharmacy professionals involved