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

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Fitness to Practise Committee investigated a pharmacy technician who submitted a falsified Certificate of Fitness to Work in July 2018.

The document was sent to Your World Recruitment (YWR), a healthcare recruitment agency responsible for placing candidates in NHS roles.

The investigation revealed:

• The certificate falsely claimed that it had been issued by Healthier Business UK Ltd (HB), an occupational health provider.
• The pharmacy technician knew the certificate was false but submitted it anyway.
• The document was quickly identified as fraudulent, prompting an internal investigation.

During the hearing, the registrant admitted submitting the document but denied dishonesty, claiming she was under significant pressure and coercion from someone else.

Findings:

The Fitness to Practise Committee found that the registrant’s actions constituted dishonesty, even though:

• She felt pressured into submitting the document.
• There was no direct patient risk as she already met the immunisation requirements.
• The falsified document was unnecessary, as a valid certificate already existed.

Despite these mitigating factors, the committee concluded:

• Submitting a false document with the intention to mislead is dishonest conduct.
• Professional integrity requires transparency and ethical behaviour at all times.
• The public and employers must be able to trust pharmacy professionals.

The committee ruled that her fitness to practise was impaired due to the seriousness of the dishonesty.

GPhC Determination on Impairment:

The committee emphasized that dishonesty is a serious issue in pharmacy practice.

The key considerations included:

• Public confidence in pharmacy requires absolute integrity.
• The registrant’s actions brought the profession into disrepute.
• Honesty is a fundamental requirement, and any deception damages trust in healthcare professionals.

However, the committee also acknowledged mitigating factors:

• The registrant was under pressure from a third party.
• She expressed remorse and had no prior disciplinary history.
• There was no risk to patient safety since she already met immunisation requirements.

Given these considerations, the committee issued a formal warning instead of suspension.

Sanction:

The committee issued a formal warning, stating:

• The registrant must be mindful of ethical responsibilities in all professional dealings.
• Any future incidents of dishonesty could result in suspension or erasure.
• The warning will remain on her record and may be considered in future fitness to practise proceedings.

The committee rejected suspension, reasoning that:

• The dishonesty was a one-time incident, rather than a pattern of misconduct.
• The registrant had already demonstrated insight and remorse.
• There was no ongoing risk to patient safety or public protection.

Learning Points for Pharmacy Professionals:

This case serves as an important reminder of the need for honesty and integrity in all aspects of professional practice.

1. Dishonesty Has Severe Consequences:
   • Even small deceptions—such as submitting a falsified certificate—can lead to fitness to practise investigations.
   • Pharmacy professionals must always provide truthful information to employers and regulators.
2. Integrity is a Fundamental Requirement in Pharmacy:
   • Employers, regulators, and the public must be able to trust pharmacy professionals.
   • Even non-clinical dishonesty can lead to serious disciplinary action.
3. Feeling Pressured is Not an Excuse for Dishonesty:
   • The committee acknowledged that the registrant felt pressured, but still found her conduct dishonest.
   • Pharmacy professionals must uphold ethical standards even under difficult circumstances.
4. Regulatory Sanctions Have Long-Term Consequences:
   • The warning remains on the registrant’s record and may affect future fitness to practise proceedings.
   • Any further dishonesty could lead to suspension or removal from the register.
5. Honesty and Transparency Prevent Disciplinary Action:
   • Had the registrant disclosed her situation honestly, no fitness to practise issue would have arisen.
   • Pharmacy professionals should always seek guidance rather than resorting to deception.