Herts vets suspended for inappropriate supply of medicines

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This is an archived news story.

The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has this week suspended a veterinary surgeon from the Register for eight months for disgraceful professional conduct.

At an Inquiry that resumed on Tuesday [8 November 2005] Mrs Susie Macleod was found guilty on multiple charges of permitting the supply and/or administration of prescription only veterinary medicines to animals that were not under her care, and by persons who were neither veterinary surgeons nor under her direction.

The situation was brought to the College's attention by senior partners in neighbouring veterinary practices who were concerned that the welfare of animals was at risk at Mrs Macleod's Health4Pets vaccination clinic in 2004. This clinic was staffed exclusively by veterinary nurses, who Mrs Macleod allowed to administer veterinary medicines in categories POM and PML.

The Committee decided that this was contrary to RCVS guidance and was an incorrect interpretation of the statutory requirement for medicinal products to be supplied only under the authority of the veterinary surgeon who has the animal concerned 'under his care'.

The Committee agreed that Mrs Macleod's provision of care was only nominal, that she was unaware of each individual animal attending the clinic and that she did not examine any animal attending the clinic for the first time. The Committee emphasised the requirement for an animal to be seen by a veterinary surgeon before prescription and supply of medicines.

Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Mr Brian Jennings, said: "We were satisfied that Mrs Macleod was mistaken in her opinion that being under the care of a veterinary nurse was the equivalent of being under the care of a veterinary surgeon, especially with regard to the dispensing and administration of POMs and PMLs."

Mrs Macleod was also found to have inadequately implemented and supervised the provision of 24-hour emergency cover at her Health4Pets practice and failed to provide sufficient information to her clients on the arrangements for emergency cover. The Committee drew attention to the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct which states that vaccination clinics should be able to provide emergency first aid and pain relief as in any other practice.

A further charge of falsely representing the services of the Health4Pets clinic was found not proved.

Mr Jennings added: "We were very concerned that animals seen at Health4Pets were not under the care of a veterinary surgeon and that the facilities were insufficient to provide first aid to animals in an emergency situation.

"Whilst we accept that there is no evidence that any animal suffered directly during the period when the clinic was open, Mrs Macleod's actions were capable of jeopardising animal welfare.

"After carefully considering each of the sanctions that could apply following our findings, we have decided to suspend Mrs Macleod from the Register for a period of eight months."