Pharmacy Technician Removed for Falsifying Pharmacist Signatures on Prescriptions

A pharmacy technician (the accused) employed at Boots, Lowestoft, was found guilty of misconduct after repeatedly falsifying pharmacist initials on prescriptions and failing to ensure they were clinically checked. The case was brought before the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Fitness to Practise Committee, which conducted a Principal Hearing remotely between December 2023 and June 2024.

Background:

The registrant, who worked as an Accuracy Checking Technician, was responsible for overseeing dosette boxes and ensuring that prescriptions were correctly dispensed. However, a company investigation revealed that multiple prescriptions had been signed off as clinically checked when they had not undergone the required verification by a pharmacist. The falsified initials belonged to two different pharmacists.

Following an internal disciplinary process, the registrant was dismissed from their role in August 2021, and the matter was subsequently referred to the GPhC.

Key Findings:

• The registrant falsified pharmacist initials on multiple occasions between March and April 2021, covering at least 20 prescriptions.
• The registrant failed to ensure clinical checks were performed before accuracy checks.
• The registrant’s actions were deemed dishonest, as they knowingly misrepresented the clinical checking process to suggest that proper procedures had been followed.
• The GPhC concluded that the misconduct posed a serious risk to patient safety, as the prescriptions were dispensed without the required clinical oversight.
• Despite having an opportunity to present their case, the registrant chose not to attend the resumed hearing and showed no insight, remorse, or reflection on their actions.

GPhC Committee Decision:

The Fitness to Practise Committee determined that the registrant’s actions amounted to serious professional misconduct and concluded that removal from the register was the only proportionate sanction. While the registrant was initially suspended, the committee ultimately ruled that a full removal was necessary to protect public trust and maintain professional standards.

Learning Points:

1. Integrity is Non-Negotiable: Pharmacy professionals must never falsify records or mislead colleagues regarding clinical procedures.
2. Clinical Checks are Mandatory: Dispensing medication without proper pharmacist oversight poses a significant risk to patient safety.
3. Dishonesty has Consequences: Even if intended to “speed up” processes, dishonest behaviour can lead to removal from the register and permanent career damage.
4. Regulatory Compliance is Essential: All pharmacy staff must adhere to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and ensure prescriptions are processed lawfully.