Nurse suspended after giving Botox jabs at Letterkenny clinic

A Northern Ireland-registered nurse has been suspended after being found administering Botox to clients in Letterkenny.

A Nursing and Midwifery Council fitness-to-practise panel handed a three-month suspension to Anne-Marie Kelly.

Ms Kelly gave medicine to clients in a Letterkenny clinic that was ordered for patients in Strabane and a tribunal heard that she carried out 18 Botox treatments. 

Ms Kelly admitted to administering aesthetic procedures and prescribing medication when she was not entitled to do so in this jurisdiction.

She also admitted to administering medication to patients here without a valid prescription.

Two Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) enforcement officers found her preparing to administer treatment when they visited the ACE Clinic in August, 2019 following receipt of a complaint. 

The tribunal heard that Ms Kelly was observed performing Botox administration procedures on a client when the inspectors entered the premises. 

Ms Kelly was informed that the medication was not to be administered. A series of products, including allergan Botox, J-pro cream containing lidocaine, hyaluronidase and hyaluronidase vials were seized. 

None of the items found were authorised for use in the Republic of Ireland and the medication bore the names of patients from Strabane rather than ACE Clinic clients. No harm was caused to patients, who were not at the unwarranted risk of harm, the panel heard.

The panel said Ms Kelly was “surprised” when informed that she was not permitted to carry out the procedure in the Republic.

The HPRA declined to pursue a criminal action due to Ms Kelly residing outside of its jurisdiction.

“The costs of prosecution would have outweighed the benefits. Instead they decided to refer your conduct to the NMC for investigation,” they said. 

Ms Kelly’s Royal College of Nursing-appointed representative said there have been no concerns about her practice since 2019.

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“I immediately realised the seriousness of my actions,” Ms Kelly wrote in a submission. 

“I cooperated fully with the investigation and held my hands up immediately. I have never returned to working in aesthetics. 

“I made a serious error in judgement and this has and never will happen again. I am devastated that I made such serious errors of judgement after 30 years of an unblemished record.”

Ms Kelly’s actions, ruled the panel, were ““serious misconduct” and they said her fitness to practise was impaired on public interest grounds.

Noting her remorse and acknowledgement, a three-month suspension, from the end of January, was imposed.