Superintendent pharmacist Oskar Wendowski, registration number 2083151, has been given a warning for overseeing the prescription of amitriptyline – an antidepressant – via an “online questionnaire” to two “particularly vulnerable patients”.
The investigating committee found that he failed to “ensure the information provided by the patients was verified” and “did not ensure the patients’ GPs were contacted to check the suitability of the medications”, the determination document from this week (February 3) said.
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The regulator warned Wendowski that he “did not properly consider the risks involved with the supply of this medication to either patient”, nor did he ensure that they were “appropriately safeguarded”.
And it stressed that his behaviour breached the standards by failing to “provide person centred care” and use his “professional judgement”, among other things.
“Particularly vulnerable patients”
While working as a superintendent pharmacist, responsible pharmacist and director at “companies providing online pharmacy services” based in Norwich, Wendowski “oversaw the prescription...of amitriptyline” to “Patient A” in June 2020, the GPhC said.
On two later dates in October and a third date in June 2021, he again “oversaw the prescription” of amitriptyline to another patient – “Patient B”, it found.
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The committee said that the companies Wendowski worked for “operated a distance-selling model and employed pharmacist independent prescribers”.
And it added that “people requesting medication completed an online questionnaire which was reviewed by the prescriber”.
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The document highlighted that at the time of the incidents, both Patient A and B were “particularly vulnerable patients already under the care of their general practitioners, who were closely monitoring their medication due to a risk of overdose and self-harm”.
“In neither case did Wendowski ensure the information provided by the patients was verified,” the GPhC found.
Nor did he “ensure information was obtained which provided independent confirmation of Patient A’s diagnosis, testing, monitoring and/or medical history”, it added.
“Undermines public confidence”
The regulator stressed that prescribing “in an online environment that relies solely on a patient questionnaire with few to no safeguards in place puts patients at risks” and “undermines public confidence” in the profession.
It reminded him of his “responsibilities” to ensure that any prescribing he oversees “is compliant with all applicable guidelines”.
The committee urged that “such conduct must not be repeated” and that he must “at all times” adhere to the standards for pharmacy professionals and “meet his responsibilities as a responsible pharmacist and superintendent pharmacist”.
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It added that “any repetition of this or similar conduct will be likely to result in further regulatory intervention”.
The GPhC concluded that the “appropriate” outcome is a warning to be published on the register and available for 12 months.
Read the determination in full here.
