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The GPhC’s fitness to practise committee has upheld allegations that a Tyne and Ware pharmacist put patient-returned medicines back into stock for re-use. 

Mukhwaheguru Singh Sidhu, a former manager and responsible pharmacist at Coast Road Pharmacy in Wallsend, was suspended for three months following a remote hearing that took place over August 11-14 this year and heard conflicting claims over how returned medicines were handled at the pharmacy. 

The FtP committee said it preferred Mr Sidhu’s colleague’s evidence concerning allegations that between April-August 2022 he had put patient-returned drugs back into stock and had instructed a colleague to use the contents of unmarked dosette boxes to prepare new dosette boxes. 

The colleague, Ms M said she saw returned medications being placed back into stock “on average maybe 2-3 times per week” and that staff were asked “on a regular basis” to put “spare medication from the dosette trays into pots ready for re-use”.

Mr Sidhu strenuously denied these allegations in his written statements to the GPhC and at the recent FtP hearing. 

While it preferred his colleague’s version of events, the FtP committee “acknowledged that the registrant’s conduct had not been in pursuit of any personal financial incentive” and that the pharmacy was “in a state of some considerable chaos and confusion” during the relevant period. 

CD register failures

The FtP hearing also established that Mr Sidhu had failed to maintain adequate controlled drugs registers between June 2018 and October 2022; had failed to keep the registers on the pharmacy premises on October 18, 2022; had stored CDs in unlocked tote bags in the dispensary on the same date; and in May 2023 had left multicompartment compliance packs (MDS) unsealed while they awaited their accuracy check. 

These and other allegations (around checking fridge temperatures and ensuring dispensary equipment was kept clean) were accepted by Mr Sidhu, who by his own admission had fallen behind due to rising workload and staffing shortages at the pharmacy, both of which were exacerbated during the Covid-19 pandemic.   

Issues first came to light in October 2022 when a controlled drugs liaison officer (CDLO) visited the pharmacy and found that the CD registers “were not on the premises”. 

When Mr Sidhu brought them into the pharmacy, it was revealed that they “had not been updated since approximately June 2018”.  

These issues were subsequently addressed, and by October 30, 2023 the CDLO found “no cause for concern with regard to the management of controlled drugs”. 

Conduct issues addressed

Mr Sidhu, who expressed sincere remorse for the six allegations he admitted, is now working as a locum RP at another pharmacy owned by the same employer. This is a “less stressful” environment, allowing him to keep on top of his workload. 

In a reflective statement, Mr Sidhu told the FtP committee: “I am going to strive to continue to represent the pharmacy profession in the best light possible, upholding the reputation of the profession. 

“I have a real desire to help patients with their medical needs as well as providing excellent individualised and bespoke advice on their medical concerns.”

The FtP committee took into account Mr Sidhu’s good character and a reference from his employer stating that his conduct “has been nothing less than perfect” and that CD entries are now all completed correctly and on time. 

However, the committee said, a finding of impaired fitness to practise was required to uphold public confidence in the profession.  

Concluding that removing Mr Sidhu from the register would be “unduly punitive,” the committee imposed a three-month suspension order. 

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