Pharmacist Independent Prescriber and the GPhC

Victoria Rees was instructed to advise and represent a pharmacist independent prescriber before the GPhC and their fitness to practise committee.

Background:

The pharmacist was working for an online pharmacy as Clinical Lead. They faced allegations regarding their prescribing and approving of prescriptions for high-risk medicines, liable to addiction or abuse and medicines requiring ongoing monitoring.

These allegations were similar to many which have involved pharmacists working for online pharmacies over the last few years, regarding prescribing based on online questionnaires, without face-to-face consultations and any communication with the patients’ GP.

The GPhC relied on two expert reports which had been used in a number of these cases and have mostly resulted in pharmacists being removed from the register.

Our Approach:

We worked with the client over a number of months to compile a detailed witness statement explaining their position in relation to the allegations, most of which she accepted. We built a strategy, advising the pharmacist on training and a reflective piece, to help demonstrate their remorse, insight and remediation. We also collated a significant defence bundle, which included numerous extremely supportive testimonials, demonstrating her otherwise unblemished career before and since the period she worked for the online pharmacy.

We also worked collaboratively with an experienced barrister to represent the pharmacist at before the GPhC’s fitness to practise committee hearing.

Outcome:

The panel found all allegations proven and that these amounted to misconduct. However, they gave significant weight to the positive evidence submitted in support of her practice, as well as her depth of reflection and comprehensive insight. Our strategy paid off and the Panel concluded that the pharmacists current fitness to practise was not impaired and therefore closed the case with no further action. This was a fantastic outcome for the pharmacist and the team.

The pharmacist gave the following feedback:

“Exceptionally supportive, knowledgeable, and professional throughout my case. I felt genuinely cared for, well‑guided, and confidently represented. Victoria and Barrister Wendy were an exceptional duo in my case.”