Chemist given censure for year

A pharmacist will have his work closely monitored for the next 12 months after being censured by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland over his poor professional performance.

Jeremiah Blake, who runs a pharmacy in Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare, had six adverse findings made against him following a hearing of the PSI’s professional conduct committee in April.

The PSI Council has ruled that several conditions must be attached to Mr Blake’s continuing registration as a pharmacist.

He is required to enter into a mentoring programme for a minimum period of 12 months with a practising superintendent pharmacist, whom he must meet on at least three occasions during the year.

Such oversight will examine areas of Mr Blake’s practice which were found to be deficient by the PSI’s professional conduct committee, including his maintenance of a controlled drug register and prescription register as well as pharmacy records such as medications dispensed.

Other areas found to be deficient included the storage of medicines, standard operating procedures, and the provision of a patient consultation area.

The mentor will be required to report back to the PSI each quarter.

At the end of the 12-month period, the PSI Council will discharge the conditions attaching to Mr Blake’s registration if it is satisfied his practice is being operated in a satisfactory manner.

Otherwise he will be subject to monitoring for three-month periods until the conditions are met to the satisfaction of the PSI.

“The council decided to impose these conditions having regard to the exceptionally poor professional standard in so many aspects of Mr Blake’s work over a prolonged period,” it said.

Mr Blake had failed to meet various regulations governing maintenance of a controlled drugs register and prescription register.