Pharmacist Suspended for One Month After Dishonestly Returning Prescriptions to NHS Spine

Date of Decision: February 3, 2022

Registrant's Role: Pharmacist

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

GPhC Standards Breached:

  • Standard 2 – Work in Partnership with Others
  • Standard 6 – Behave in a Professional Manner
  • Standard 7 – Respect and Maintain Confidentiality
  • Standard 8 – Speak Up When Things Go Wrong
  • Standard 9 – Demonstrate Leadership

Case Summary

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Fitness to Practise Committee investigated a pharmacist after dishonestly returning prescriptions to NHS Spine despite knowing the medications had already been collected.

While working as a relief pharmacy manager at Peak Pharmacy, the pharmacist:

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    1 thought on “Pharmacist Suspended for One Month After Dishonestly Returning Prescriptions to NHS Spine”

    1. Interesting case.
      I have a nearby pharmacy who keeps nominating patients back to their pharmacy despite switching over to our pharmacy. They have done this to Boots patients as well near us. We teamed up with Booths and reported it to the LPC of which the LPC issued a formal warning email to the offending pharmacy.
      However, they have since continued to nominate patients back to the pharmacy without patient consent and it’s something we only find out about when patients come in and tell us.
      How can we escalate this? We have reported it to the GPhC as well but nothing has really happened other than the GPhC saying they will let the local officer know to keep an eye out for this behaviour on their next inspection

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