A veterinary nurse was removed from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Register after a disciplinary committee found he had taken and injected himself with Alfaxan, an anaesthetic used in dogs and cats. The removal followed a resumed hearing in June 2026, after he breached undertakings imposed at an earlier hearing and did not engage with the resumed proceedings. A separate allegation that he injected himself with Lidocaine was not proved.
What happened in the two medicine incidents
The case concerned Robert Ryan Drummond, a registered veterinary nurse. The committee distinguished between what he admitted and what it could establish about the two incidents.
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| Date | Committee finding | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| 4 August 2023 | He dishonestly took Lidocaine from the practice without a valid prescription or veterinary-surgeon direction. He admitted taking it. | A member of the public said she saw him inject himself in a car park. Drummond denied injecting himself, and the committee was not sure what substance the syringe contained. It did not find the alleged Lidocaine injection proved. |
| 6 September 2023 | He took 5 ml of Alfaxan without a valid prescription or veterinary-surgeon direction and injected himself while on duty. He admitted both particulars. | Staff later found him on a bathroom floor, apparently unconscious, with a syringe beneath him. His trousers and underwear were lowered, and an ambulance was called. |
The decision identifies Alfaxan as the brand name for alfaxalone. A veterinary surgeon told the committee that it is used for sedation and induction of anaesthesia in dogs and cats. The phrase “dog anaesthetic” therefore refers to the Alfaxan involved in the September incident; it should not be taken to mean that the committee proved he injected Lidocaine in August.
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The original hearing: misconduct and an 18-month postponement
At a hearing held from 27 to 29 October 2025, the Veterinary Nurse Disciplinary Committee found the admitted facts proved and concluded that Drummond’s conduct amounted to serious professional misconduct. Rather than remove him immediately, it postponed judgment for 18 months subject to undertakings.
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In reaching that initial decision, the committee considered supporting testimonials, including 21 public testimonials cited by the RCVS, as well as statements from Drummond that demonstrated insight. It concluded at that stage that he did not represent a risk to animals going forward.
The resumed hearing: breached undertakings and no engagement
The resumed decision records that Drummond gained access to a controlled-drugs cabinet on 21 March 2026, contrary to the undertakings. The RCVS also said he attempted to remove himself from the Register through the online process on 23 March. The committee cited a lack of communication and engagement. He was absent when the hearing resumed on 30 June 2026.
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In his absence, the committee said it could not assess his future risk or insight. It directed the Registrar to remove him from the Register, finding removal proportionate to protect animals and the public. The RCVS announced the removal on 5 October 2026.
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What the committee said about the conduct
Paul Morris, chairing the committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “Mr Drummond’s irresponsible approach to prescription-only medication constituted an abuse of the trust placed in him as a registered veterinary nurse and was in breach of legal provisions designed to safeguard human health.”
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On the decision at the resumed hearing, Morris said: “Since the Committee could not now assess the Respondent’s future risk or his insight in his absence, it therefore decided that removal was the only proportionate sanction because any other sanction would not protect animals or the public in the future without those matters having been adequately assessed.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How veterinary nurse disciplinary cases are decided
RCVS guidance says complaints against veterinary nurses are heard by the Veterinary Nurse Disciplinary Committee. The committee must be sure that a charge is proved, which the guidance describes as the highest civil standard of proof. That distinction is important in this case: taking Lidocaine was admitted and proved, but the alleged injection was not proved because the substance could not be established with sufficient certainty.
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The RCVS guidance also describes a 28-day period in which a registered veterinary nurse may lodge an appeal against a suspension or removal direction. The available case announcement and decision do not establish whether an appeal was lodged in Drummond’s case.
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Sources
- RCVS announcement, 5 October 2026
- RCVS Veterinary Nurse Disciplinary Committee decision, October 2026
- RCVS disciplinary committee hearings guidance
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