A nurse prescriber has been fined £8,000 after unlawfully supplying botulinum toxin and other prescription-only medicines (POMs) without the required pharmacist oversight.
Nichola Hawes came to the attention of the Medicines Regulatory Group (MRG), part of the Northern Ireland Government’s Department of Health, in November 2022, following a report from a former patient who received unsolicited medication in their name.
UK legislation mandates that POMs must be prescribed following an appropriate medical consultations and dispensed by a registered pharmacist. Any failure to adhere to this process constitutes a criminal offence and undermines the standards of safe clinical practice.
Following an investigation, the MRG seized several quantities of POMs from the nurse’s residence including weight-loss pens, hydroxocobalamin and hyaluronidase.
The case, brought before a UK court, involved the nurse issuing (POMs) without ensuring a qualified pharmacist had conducted the necessary clinical checks, as required under UK legislation. The nurse’s actions were deemed a breach of legal protocols designed to safeguard patient safety, particularly concerning the administration of high-risk injectable treatment.
