A DISGRACED GP who stole medication by creating fake prescriptions has been suspended.

Dr John McClelland, was employed as a GP at Crowhall Medical Practice in Gateshead at the time of the offences.

Between June and December 2018, he dishonestly made a false representation regarding medical prescriptions, intending to keep the drugs for himself.

A recent hearing by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service suspended the GP for 12 months.

The hearing related to two separate matters – a conviction in North Tyneside Magistrates Court in August 2019 and a misconduct matter relating to a conditional discharge which was imposed in Ballymena Magistrates’ Court in October 2019.

During the hearing it was discovered that on July 19, 2018 Dr McClelland reauthorised a course of medication for a patient and then printed the prescription.

Having obtained the hardcopy, Dr McClelland cancelled the issue of the medicine on the patients record.

By doing so, the medication would not be immediately visible on the record on the current medication screen and would only be seen if one searched for historic medication issues.

The enquiry showed that, on the same day, the prescription was presented at a pharmacy and the drugs collected.

Dr McClelland repeated this on a number of occasions.

Later on, he changed his method in relation to these prescriptions.

A police spokesperson said that in November 2018, Dr McClelland deleted the patient's record so that the detail could only be retrieved by carrying out a specific search for the deleted item.

On behalf of the General Medical Council (GMC) counsel Laura Ms Barber submitted that Dr McClelland’s fitness to practise was impaired by reason of his conviction and misconduct in relation to the matters.

The GP said that the repercussions of his actions were enormous and something which he is very ashamed of.

He also said he would not repeat his dishonesty, noting that he would likely receive a custodial sentence should he repeat his crimes.

Dr McClelland said he planned to engage with deaneries and get the support he needs to get back into work.

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