Veterinary nurse struck off after injecting dog anaesthetic

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 20:32 · Archive

A veterinary nurse has been struck off after injecting himself with an anaesthetic used for animals.

Robert Drummond, a veterinary nurse registered since 2017, has been struck off by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons following a misconduct hearing. Drummond worked as a locum at Collier and Brock Vets in Irvine, Ayrshire until September 2023.

He was caught injecting himself with Alfaxan, a general anaesthetic commonly used for pets, and had stolen both this drug and Lidocaine from the practice. Witnesses saw him in his car outside the clinic; two members of the public described him as slumped in the driving seat. The Daily Mail reports that one witness saw him 'holding a syringe, which he was injecting into his skin between his thumb and forefinger of his left hand'. When asked if he was unwell, he replied he was having a sleep and was fine.

Drummond admitted stealing Lidocaine but denied injecting it, claiming the syringe contained local anaesthetic for dogs having their nails clipped. The RCVS committee chair said that 'acting dishonestly runs contrary to one of the most fundamental principles of the profession'. He had initially been allowed to continue working with conditions attached after the 2023 incident but was struck off at the subsequent hearing.

How it is being reported

• Vet nurse struck off after injecting himself with dog anaesthetic and being found naked at practiceA veterinary nurse has been struck off after he was caught injecting himself with a dog anaesthetic.Daily Mail · 13 Oct, 20:15
• Vet nurse struck off after injecting himself with dog anaesthetic and 'passing out half-naked'Robert Drummond stole the medicine from the clinic where he workedThe Independent · 13 Oct, 15:08

In this story: Robert Drummond · Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons · Collier and Brock Vets · Irvine · Ayrshire

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