UK Nurse struck off for illegally administering dermal filler in Ireland

A UK-registered nurse has been barred from practising in Britain after being found guilty of misrepresenting his right to administer dermal filler injections in Ireland.

John Parker reportedly flew regularly to the Republic of Ireland to treat around 50 clients in total. He previously admitted to the Sunday World newspaper that he had been detained at Dublin Airport in 2018. At that time, authorities were said to have seized four batches of dermal filler products that were in his possession.

In Ireland, only qualified doctors and dentists are permitted to administer botulinum toxin, although Irish-qualified nurses can inject dermal fillers. However, as a UK-registered nurse, Parker was unauthorised to supply or inject either botulinum toxin or dermal fillers in the country.

Parker’s misconduct case was heard by the British Nursing and Midwifery Council Fitness to Practice Committee on 18-19 January 2023.

The charges faced by the now-former nurse included: the supply or sale of medication which was not authorised for such in the Republic of Ireland; the administration and/or otherwise supply of prescription-only medication which had not been prescribed to those to whom he administered it; and the practice of nursing when he was not registered to do so in the Republic of Ireland.

Parker was also charged with being dishonest about his prescribing rights in Ireland and was accused of attempting to mislead officials about whether the medication boxes seized at Dublin Airport in 2018 were empty.

The committee found Parker guilty of the unauthorised supply or sale of medication in the Republic of Ireland and of misrepresenting both his prescribing rights in the country and the status of the seized medication.

The committee thus adjudicated: “In light of the above, your fitness to practise is impaired by reason of your misconduct.’

In response to the case, the Sunday World spoke to the HPRA, which regulates botulinum toxin-containing medicines in Ireland. “Botulinum toxin-containing medicines are authorised prescription-only medicine,” a spokesperson revealed to the newspaper. “These products may only be legally administered by an appropriately qualified and trained, registered medical doctor or registered dentist acting within their practice of medicine or dentistry and within the regulations. The medicine must be one that is authorised by HPRA.”

Parker is entitled to appeal the decision. Information on whether he intends to do so has not been made public at this time.