Shipman pharmacist accused of serious lapses

A pharmacist who dispensed large amounts of heroin to Harold Shipman, unaware that he was using it to murder his patients, committed "serious lapses", a disciplinary inquiry was told yesterday.

Ghislaine Brant, who ran a chemist's shop in Hyde, Cheshire, is appearing before the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Statutory Committee to face allegations of misconduct.

Shipman was jailed for life in January 2000 at Preston Crown Court on 15 counts of murder but a public inquiry found it was highly likely he killed 215 people and had enough drugs to murder 720. He later hanged himself in Wakefield Prison.

In a report into Shipman's case, Dame Janet Smith called for monitoring and auditing of how GPs and pharmacists prescribe and store controlled drugs and criticised Ms Brant, whose pharmacy was next door to Shipman's practice.

Opening the case for the Society, Alison Foster told the committee that although Ms Brant could not have known these drugs were being used to kill patients, there had been "serious lapses" on her behalf.

"There was no legal reassurance he could have given Mrs Brant. She said she trusted Mr Shipman and didn't see it as her role to question him," Ms Foster said.

"The Society suggests these are serious matters and reveal significant failures by Mrs Brant. Although it may seem difficult to separate what happened then from what is known now, it is important that this is done," she said.

The hearing continues.