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Pharmacist who drank morphine is struck off

A Shropshire pharmacy manager who regularly drank a morphine-based medicine at work to ease back pain has been struck off the register.

Hazel Wilkinson, of Tudor Gate, Shrewsbury, was caught after colleagues reported their "suspicions", the RPSGB hearing was told.

Panel chair John Burrow said: "This was planned and premeditated and an abuse of trust in a position as a pharmacist. It was dishonesty involving addictive drugs."

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

When quizzed by Karen Slater, who was Rowlands area manager at the time, Mrs Wilkinson had said 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 also claimed she was not "addicted to it but had no other choice if she wanted to work".

Mrs Wilkinson suffered back pain following a car accident more than 20 years ago, the panel heard.

Mrs Slater added: "She had a long history of mental illness - she suffered bipolar - being sometimes extremely happy and sometimes down. She was erratic."

Mrs Wilkinson 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, told the panel Mrs Wilkinson "stole an unknown quantity of Oramorph from patient stock and patient returns and during the 12-month period there was a discrepancy of 1.2 litres".

A medicines counter assistant at the store said her suspicions were aroused when Mrs Wilkinson "froze" when her colleague arrived in the same room on one occasion and then placed a bottle of Oramorph back onto the shelf.

Mrs Wilkinson has three months to appeal.