TWO former employees of a Newport GP surgery fraudulently drafted and provided dozens of prescriptions for medication for pain, depression and anxiety for each other over almost five years.

Jodie Dyke, 34, of Argosy Close, Newport, and 41-year-old Samantha Edwards, of Rhydynos Street, Blaenavon, used their knowledge of the system at Malpas Brook Health Centre to provide prescriptions for each other.

They were charged jointly, and each pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by abuse of position, under the Fraud Act 2006.

A hearing at Newport magistrates court was told that Edwards and Dyke were long-standing employees at Malpas Brook. Edwards worked there for 23 years, and was a phlebotomist and trainee healthcare assistant. Dyke worked there for many years, as a quality outcomes framework lead and as deputy practice manager.

Magistrates were told that the pair's dishonest and fraudulent manipulation of the system - done without the knowledge of medical practitioners at the centre - generated more than 80 fraudulent prescription forms that were subsequently dispensed at pharmacy level.

Dispensing recharge costs were the cause of the loss to the NHS. The pair's activities began in September 2010, but only came to light in June 2015, when a local pharmacy chased up a prescription form that had not arrived, and an investigation uncovered the extent of the pair's illegal activity.

Dyke and Edwards, both of previous good character, were subsequently sacked.

Defending both, James Lynch told the court that Edwards suffers from anxiety and depression, and while for several years she had rarely been on medication, her personal circumstances changed.

"She accepts there came a point when she and Miss Dyke misused the system to gain repeat prescriptions (for diazepam and a drug to treat depression)," said Mr Lynch.

"Had she attended her own GP she could have got them. For whatever reason, she did not. It is very regrettable, and something she does not intend to repeat."

He added that Dyke had the painkiller co-codamol prescribed by her own GP.

"She accepts she put in repeat prescriptions dishonestly, that were signed unwittingly by a GP in the practice, essentially doubling up on that pain medication," said Mr Lynch.

"After this matter came to light, it forced Miss Dyke to see her own GP. She explained her position and her GP put in place a programme to reduce her medication.

"She has been free of that medication since 2015. She has refused to have it since because she does not want to develop a reliance."

Probation reports revealed that Dyke admitted the situation "spiralled out of control", that she had been naive, and had not realised her actions would lead to a criminal conviction, while Edwards admitted self-prescribing medication and understood her actions were dishonest.

Both women were handed 12-month community orders with 140 hours' unpaid work, and each must pay half of the overall NHS costs of £3,810.96.

They must each pay compensation to the NHS over the dispensing costs - Dyke £320.80 and Edwards £468.79 - and each must also pay £85 prosecution costs and an £85 victim surcharge.