Pharmacist struck off over drugs use

A Shropshire pharmacy manager, who regularly helped herself to morphine-based medicine at work to ease back pain following a car accident more than 20 years ago, has been struck off.

Hazel Wilkinson, of Painters Place, Tudor Gate, Shrewsbury, was caught after staff at Rowlands Pharmacy in Church Stretton reported their suspicions, a Royal Pharmaceutical Society hearing was told.

John Burrow, panel chairman, said her actions were "planned and premeditated" and that it was an abuse of trust of her position as a pharmacist.

Mr Burrow said that "appreciative quantities" of Oramorph had disappeared.

"It was dishonesty involving addictive drugs," he said.

"It was not a single act - it was an ongoing series of thefts over 12 months. Theft of the drug and use of it is particularly serious."

Mrs Wilkinson, who did not attend the central London hearing yesterday, was interviewed by the company area manager and admitted consuming Oramorph "from patient stock and patient returns", the panel was told.

She was accused of dishonestly taking the medicine between September 17, 2007 and September 17, 2008, from the pharmacy, supplying the drug otherwise in accordance with the regulations while failing to be honest and trustworthy.

Tom Rider, for the society, said that Mrs Wilkinson had stolen an "unknown quantity" of Oramorph and during the 12-month period there was a discrepancy of 1.2 litres.

He said: "Three members of staff were suspicious and reported it to the working pharmacist. Interviewed, Mrs Wilkinson made admissions about taking Ora-morph from patient stock and patient returns."

"Mrs Wilkinson acted dishonestly and recognised herself what she was doing was wrong."

Area manager at the time, Karen Slater, who interviewed Mrs Wilkinson after the matter was reported to her, said the pharmacist had told her she "needed it for pain in her back, had seen her doctor many times, and had helped herself for 12 months".

Insisting she was "fine and didn't make mistakes" after consuming the medicine, she said Mrs Wilkinson had also claimed she was not "addicted to it but had no other choice if she wanted to work".