GPhC Suspends Two Pharmacists and Removes Superintendent Over Unsafe Online Prescribing of High-Risk Medicines

Date of Decision: May 13, 2026

Registrant's Role: Pharmacist

Allegations:

• Failed to carry out adequate due diligence before entering business arrangements with online prescribing providers.
• Dispensed or overseen the dispensing of approximately 28,070 prescriptions, many involving high-risk medicines including: zopiclone, zolpidem, codeine, dihydrocodeine, pregabalin, gabapentin, amitriptyline, modafinil and co-codamol preparations.
• Failed to assure themselves that prescriptions complied with GMC, RPS and GPhC guidance.
• Allowed prescribing decisions to rely primarily on online questionnaires without sufficient medical assessment.
• Failed to ensure prescribers accessed GP or specialist medical records.
• Failed to ensure adequate monitoring for dependence, misuse or addiction risks.
• Failed to ensure appropriate identity checks and safeguarding arrangements.
• Allowed repeated supplies of medicines liable to abuse or dependence without adequate intervention.
• Failed to ensure robust SOPs and governance arrangements for remote dispensing services.
• Operated dispensing models where commercial incentives risked encouraging inappropriate supply of medicines.
• Failed to ensure adequate patient counselling, safety-netting and communication with patients’ GPs.

Outcome: The registrant acting as Responsible Pharmacist received a 12-month suspension order. One Superintendent Pharmacist was removed from the register. The second Superintendent Pharmacist received a 12-month suspension order.

GPhC Standards Breached:

• Standard 1 – Provide person-centred care
• Standard 4 – Maintain, develop and use professional knowledge and skills
• Standard 5 – Use professional judgement
• Standard 6 – Behave in a professional manner
• Standard 7 – Respect and maintain confidentiality and privacy
• Standard 8 – Speak up when there are concerns or when things go wrong
• Standard 9 – Demonstrate leadership
• Standard 10 – Work effectively with others

Case Summary

Original Case Document