A NURSE has been suspended from practising in the UK for three months after administering Botox injections in a private clinic in Letterkenny over five years ago.
Anne Marie Kelly, from Strabane, faced a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Fitness to Practise hearing after it emerged she had been working as a nurse in the Republic of Ireland without the necessary legal authorisation.
The case stemmed from a public complaint regarding her administration of Botox at ACE Clinic in Letterkenny in August 2019.
Under Irish law, only a registered doctor, dentist, or a nurse acting under the direction of a doctor or dentist can legally administer Botox for aesthetic purposes.
On August 21, 2019, Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) enforcement officers entered the clinic while Ms Kelly was performing Botox procedures on a client.
During an interview, she admitted to having administered Botox to 18 customers over three visits to the clinic.
The investigation found that Ms. Kelly had prescribed medication in the names of her patients in Strabane, rather than those receiving treatment at ACE Clinic.
Additionally, she failed to ensure the availability of precautionary medications, such as adrenaline, in the event of an emergency.
The NMC panel ruled that her conduct was ‘dishonest’, stating: “None of the items in your possession were authorised for use in the Republic of Ireland.”
However, it found that no actual harm had come to patients.
Ms Kelly, who has since stepped away from aesthetic treatments, described her actions as a ‘serious error of judgment’ and expressed remorse.
“I immediately realised the seriousness of my actions,” she said.
“I have never returned to working in aesthetics. I made a serious error, and this will never happen again.”
She received a three-month suspension, effective from January 30, 2025.
Commenting on the case, Christina O’Rourke, chair of the Dermatology Aesthetic Nurses Association of Ireland (DANAI), emphasised the importance of nurses adhering to strict professional and legal guidelines, stating, “It is the responsibility of each nurse to work within their scope of practice and uphold professional standards.”
Related posts:
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)