Pharmacists have been warned to keep an eye out for a former midwife forging prescriptions for addictive opiates, possibly for her own use.
Ministry of Health medicines control medical officer of health Dr John Crawshaw sent out a privileged statement to all pharmacies telling them a former midwife had been attempting to write prescriptions for codeine and tramadol using other midwives' details and false patient details.
The October 6 statement also reminded pharmacists that midwives could not prescribe codeine or high doses of tramadol.
The statement told pharmacists not to dispense the drugs if the prescription was written by a midwife and to contact the police if they determined the prescription was forged.
Midwifery Council communications adviser Leigh Bredenkamp said the council was contacted by a pharmacist concerned about a midwife's prescribing on October 3. The pharmacist said the midwife had previously had scripts filled at the pharmacy for both large doses of tramadol and for codeine.