Fitness to Practise Cases

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This archive contains General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Fitness to Practise (FtP) case summaries, detailing regulatory decisions affecting pharmacy professionals in the UK.

Each case provides insight into professional misconduct, errors, and ethical breaches that led to sanctions such as suspension, removal, or warnings. These summaries are valuable for:

  • Pharmacists & Pharmacy Technicians – to understand common regulatory pitfalls.
  • Employers & HR Teams – to learn about professional accountability and compliance.
  • Pharmacy Students – to prepare for real-world ethical challenges in pharmacy practice.

How to use this case summary database:

  • Search for specific cases using the search box above. You can search by keyword (e.g., "controlled drugs," "dishonesty," "suspension"), by sanction type (suspension, removal, warning) or issue type (dishonesty, prescribing errors, controlled drugs, etc.)
  • Alternatively, scroll down to browse the latest FtP case summaries.

Why it matters:

The decisions in these cases shape the legal and ethical landscape of pharmacy practice. Staying informed can help pharmacy professionals avoid similar mistakes and maintain high professional standards.

Latest FtP case summaries:

Pharmacy Technician Receives GPhC Warning for Submitting a Falsified Fitness to Work Certificate

Date of Decision: January 13, 2021

Allegations: On 18 July 2018, the pharmacy technician submitted a falsified Certificate of Fitness (EPP) to a recruitment agency (Your World Recruitment). The document purported to be issued by Healthier Business UK Ltd but was not genuine. The technician admitted submitting the document but denied dishonesty, claiming she acted under coercion and pressure from someone else. The GPhC found that her actions were dishonest, as she knew the certificate was false and intended to mislead others.

Outcome: A formal warning was issued

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Pharmacist Receives Formal Warning for Offensive Comments at Public Rally

Date of Decision: November 5, 2020

Allegations: The pharmacist made a series of public statements at the Al Quds Day rally on 18 June 2017, which were considered offensive and alleged to be anti-Semitic. The specific statements included: Referring to Zionists as having certain "genes" and a "genetic code". Claiming "Zionists are not Jews". Stating that "any Zionist or Jew supporting Israel" is "not a real Rabbi but an imposter". Accusing "Zionist supporters of the Tory Party" of being "responsible for the murder of the people in Grenfell". The GPhC alleged that these statements were anti-Semitic and offensive, harming public confidence in the pharmacy profession.

Outcome: A formal warning was issued.

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Pharmacy Technician Removed from Register After Dishonesty in Immigration and GPhC Renewal Forms

Date of Decision: July 23, 2015

Allegations: The pharmacy technician received a police caution for obtaining leave to remain in the UK by deception. The deception involved submitting false documents to artificially inflate his income to meet immigration requirements. He failed to disclose this caution to the GPhC within seven days, as required. When completing his 2014 GPhC registration renewal, he falsely declared that he had not received a caution or conviction. The GPhC found his actions dishonest, both in misleading UK Border Agency (UKBA) and in making false declarations to his professional regulator.

Outcome: Removal from the register

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Pharmacist’s Suspension Extended After Dishonesty in Taking Returned Medications

Date of Decision: February 16, 2016

Allegations: The pharmacist dishonestly removed unspecified quantities of four medications (three prescription-only medicines and one over-the-counter analgesic) from patient-returned stock at his workplace. The misconduct occurred over two years (April 2011 – May 2013). The pharmacist voluntarily disclosed his actions to his employer’s Revenue Protection Officer during an unrelated internal investigation. The GPhC found his conduct dishonest, bringing the profession into disrepute and calling into question his integrity. A nine-month suspension was imposed in May 2015, with a review hearing scheduled before reinstatement. The pharmacist failed to provide evidence of insight, remorse, or remediation

Outcome: A six-month extension of the suspension was imposed

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Pharmacy Technician Suspended for Eight Months Following Sexual Assault Conviction

Date of Decision: August 3, 2015

Allegations: The pharmacy technician was convicted of sexual assault on a female, contrary to Section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. He was sentenced to a two-year community order requiring Supervision by a Responsible Officer for two years, Participation in the Sex Offenders Treatment Programme (100 days) and Compliance with the Sex Offenders Notification Requirements for five years. He was barred from working with children and vulnerable adults under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. Despite these restrictions, he sought to continue working as a pharmacy technician and maintained that he posed no risk to patients.

Outcome: Suspended from the Register for eight months

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Pharmacy Technician Suspended for Three Months After Police Caution for Shoplifting

Date of Decision: February 15, 2016

Allegations: The pharmacy technician received a police caution for three instances of shoplifting from Sainsbury’s in early 2015. Items stolen included alcohol and confectionery with a total value of £24.85. She admitted to the offences under police caution, stating she was under personal and financial stress at the time. The GPhC Fitness to Practise Committee assessed whether her actions brought the profession into disrepute and impaired her fitness to practise.

Outcome: A three-month suspension

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Pharmacy Technician Suspended for Four Months After Submitting False Employment Reference

Date of Decision: February 12, 2016

Allegations: The pharmacy technician created a false employment reference using the name of a former line manager. He submitted the fake reference to a locum agency in an attempt to secure employment. The fraudulent reference was quickly detected, leading to an investigation by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). The registrant admitted dishonesty at the earliest opportunity and expressed remorse for his actions.

Outcome: A four-month suspension from the GPhC Register

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Pharmacist Suspended for Nine Months After Dishonesty in GPhC Complaint Handling

Date of Decision: July 22, 2015

Allegations: The pharmacist submitted a complaint to the GPhC about his workplace but later denied making the complaint. He falsified a letter, claiming that a complaint had been made against him, to justify his resignation. He misled his employer and the GPhC about the existence of this fabricated complaint. His actions amounted to serious dishonesty, including creating false documents and deceiving his employer and the regulator.

Outcome: Suspended from the Register for nine months

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Pharmacist Receives GPhC Warning Following Police Caution for Domestic Incident

Date of Decision: March 9, 2015

Allegations: Received a police caution for assault by beating following a domestic incident involving his spouse. The GPhC Fitness to Practise Committee assessed whether this caution impaired the pharmacist’s fitness to practise. Concerns were raised about the registrant’s lack of initial insight in his early communications with the Council. The GPhC argued that a finding of impairment was necessary to maintain public confidence in the profession.

Outcome: Warning, which would remain on the public register for two years

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Pharmacist’s Fitness to Practise Restored After Controlled Drugs Documentation Failure and Police Caution

Date of Decision: March 2, 2015

Allegations: Failure to properly process and endorse prescriptions for controlled drugs (methadone), leading to financial loss for the employer. Failure to comply with Regulation 16(2) of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. Attempting to avoid contact with both the police and the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) inspectors. Failing to notify the GPhC of a change in address, breaching registration requirements. Accepting a police caution for failure to comply with controlled drug regulations.

Outcome: Registrant's fitness to practise was no longer impaired

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