Date of Decision: February 3, 2022
Allegations: While working at Peak Pharmacy, Manchester, the pharmacist:
Returned prescriptions to NHS Spine on 16 May 2020 and 30 May 2020, despite the medications having already been collected by patients.
Attempted to conceal his actions by sending a Facebook message to a colleague asking her to "keep this between ourselves."
Falsified pharmacy records to hide the fact that the medications had been dispensed.
When confronted by a colleague, he panicked and attempted to persuade her not to report him, fearing he would be struck off.
The pharmacist later admitted his actions, citing pressure to meet performance targets as a contributing factor.
Outcome: A one-month suspension was imposed
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Date of Decision: June 7, 2022
Allegations: The pharmacist was convicted at Birmingham Crown Court on 12 December 2019 for:
Possessing a medicinal product for the purpose of wholesale distribution without a licence, contrary to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.
Supplying a Class C controlled drug (Zolpidem) to another without authorization, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
The pharmacist, along with a business partner, exported over 20,000 packets of Zolpidem (500,000 tablets) to Trinidad without a Home Office Controlled Drugs Licence (HOCDL).
The shipments were deliberately mislabelled as “medical products” to avoid detection.
The pharmacist received payments into a personal bank account and attempted to mislead the MHRA during their investigation.
The MHRA investigation uncovered fraudulent invoicing and destruction of records to cover up the illegal supply.
Outcome: Removal from the GPhC register
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Date of Decision: January 7, 2022
Allegations: The pharmacist stole prescription medicines and other pharmacy stock valued at £44,842 while working as a locum pharmacist at a community pharmacy.
He ordered stock for the pharmacy but removed the items for personal use, placing them in his car during shifts.
CCTV footage showed him removing stock approximately four times per week over a 10-month period from January to October 2019.
The theft included prescription-only medicines, some of which required refrigeration, raising concerns about supply chain integrity and patient safety.
The pharmacist was caught on 12 October 2019 when the pharmacy owner observed him live on CCTV placing boxes into his car. The police were called, and he was arrested on-site.
He admitted the theft, stating that he was under financial pressure from setting up an online pharmacy business and described the theft as "borrowing stock."
He was convicted of theft at Merseyside Magistrates’ Court on 24 February 2021 and sentenced to 18 months of immediate imprisonment, with an order to pay compensation of £44,842.
Outcome: Removal from the GPhC register
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Date of Decision: March 21, 2023
Allegations: The pharmacist was convicted at York Crown Court on 12 May 2022 of the following offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971:
Supplying diazepam (Class C controlled drug) between January 2014 and April 2016.
Supplying zopiclone (Class C controlled drug) between January 2014 and April 2016.
Supplying zolpidem (Class C controlled drug) between February 2014 and April 2016.
Supplying nitrazepam (Class C controlled drug) between May 2014 and April 2016.
The pharmacist operated as a wholesaler of controlled drugs but did not hold the necessary Home Office Controlled Drugs Licence (HOCDL).
He continued supplying controlled drugs despite knowing he lacked the required licensing, making over 70,000 boxes (almost 2 million tablets) of Class C controlled drugs available on the market.
Outcome: A 12-month suspension was imposed
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Date of Decision: April 14, 2023
Allegations: On 13 September 2021, the pharmacist was convicted at Isleworth Crown Court of:
Fraud by abuse of position, contrary to sections 1 and 4 of the Fraud Act 2006.
Being concerned in supplying a controlled drug (Class B) contrary to section 4(3)(b) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
The pharmacist supplied over 2,000 bottles of codeine linctus and Phenergan over a period of more than a year.
Initially, the pharmacist refused sales but later complied after being coerced and threatened by a group of men who:
Threatened harm to him and his family.
Showed him weapons and warned that his family was under surveillance.
After the employer confronted him about excessive stock orders, the pharmacist initially claimed the sales were legitimate before later admitting to being coerced.
The pharmacist was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment (suspended for 18 months) and 200 hours of community service.
Outcome: Removal from the GPhC register
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Date of Decision: April 6, 2023
Allegations: As the Superintendent Pharmacist (SI) at SQ Invest Ltd, which operated an online pharmacy, the registrant:
Failed to implement proper identity verification procedures for patients ordering medicines online.
Allowed patients to select high-risk medicines, strengths, and quantities before consultations.
Supplied opioids (codeine, dihydrocodeine) and sleeping aids (zopiclone, zimovane) without verifying GP approval.
Allowed medicines to be supplied solely based on a self-completed online questionnaire.
Did not conduct audits on prescribing practices or refusals, increasing the risk of inappropriate supplies.
Used prescribers based in Romania but did not ensure they were following UK guidelines or properly registered.
Did not have proper indemnity insurance for the prescribing services provided.
Outcome: A nine-month suspension was imposed
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Date of Decision: April 7, 2021
Allegations: Between January 2017 and June 2018, the pharmacy technician removed codeine phosphate tablets from the hospital pharmacy for personal use.
To facilitate this, she created false patient records, showing that codeine had been dispensed to patients when it had not.
The pharmacy technician acted dishonestly, knowing that:
She did not have authority to remove the codeine.
The records were falsified to cover up her actions.
Outcome: A six-month suspension was imposed
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Date of Decision: February 2, 2021
Allegations: The pharmacist was removed from the GPhC register on 16 June 2015 due to dishonesty in fitness to practise declarations.
When applying for directorship of a new pharmacy company in 2014, he:
Falsely answered “no” to questions about past criminal convictions and fitness to practise investigations.
Failed to disclose that he had two criminal convictions under the Medicines Act (for improper dispensing and sale of prescription-only medicines).
Withheld information about past regulatory investigations, including five prior fitness to practise investigations, three reprimands, and one warning.
Had previously been reprimanded in 2007 for failing to disclose criminal convictions when applying for NHS contracts.
The 2015 committee found his actions were deliberately dishonest and incompatible with registration.
In June 2020, the pharmacist applied for restoration to the register, arguing that he had developed insight and remorse over the past five years.
Outcome: The application for restoration was refused
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Date of Decision: May 25, 2021
Allegations: Between 1 and 15 October 2018, while working as a pharmacist at Rowlands Pharmacy (Overton, Wales), the registrant:
Administered the incorrect flu vaccine to patients 75 years and older, contrary to the Patient Group Directive (PGD).
Administered the wrong vaccine to patients 65 years and older, some of whom were in clinical risk groups.
Falsified records by documenting that patients had received the Fluad vaccine when, in reality, they had been given the Quadrivalent vaccine.
Acted dishonestly, as he knew:
The incorrect vaccine was administered.
The PGD required Fluad, not Quadrivalent, for certain age groups.
Failed to obtain emergency contact details from some patients who received the Quadrivalent vaccine.
Outcome: A two-month suspension was imposed
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Date of Decision: June 8, 2023
Allegations: The pharmacist ordered and removed four bottles of codeine linctus from two separate pharmacies (Tuebrook Pharmacy and Upton Rocks Pharmacy) on 27 and 28 October 2020 without making payment.
The GPhC alleged dishonesty, stating that he:
Took the codeine linctus without permission from the owner.
Knew he did not have permission to take it.
Knew he had not paid for it.
The pharmacist denied dishonesty, stating he was under stress and unable to recall whether he had paid.
Outcome: A four-month suspension was imposed
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