A GP receptionist who faked multiple prescriptions over three years at a Glasgow health centre has been found guilty of fraud.

Anne Burns, 67, of Ballantyne Drive, Moodiesburn, created dozens of false prescriptions and then duped GPs into signing them off at McKenzie and Burns practice, based at Parkhead Health Centre.

The drugs had not been prescribed for the patients involved.

She took the prescriptions, which included sleeping tablets, to at least 12 different pharmacies across Glasgow and Lanarkshire, apparently in an attempt to avoid suspicion.

Ms Burns resigned from her job when staff at the practice questioned her after becoming suspicious about her behaviour and reported her to NHS Counter Fraud Services.

The fraud happened over a total of three years from September 8, 2012 to October 15, 2015, and is said to have involved a ‘significant’ number of fake prescriptions.

Court papers show Ms Burns pocketed drugs after taking the notes to Parkhead Health Centre pharmacy, Mackies pharmacy in Moodiesburn and Boots stores at St Enoch Centre, Queen Street station, Sauchiehall Street, the Fort and at the Antonine Shopping Centre in Cumbernauld.

She appeared before Glasgow Sheriff Court on Thursday and was given a community payback order.

A spokeswoman for the GP surgery, said: “The individual is no longer employed by the practice.

“The matter was referred to the NHS Counter Fraud Services and we have co-operated fully with the investigation.”

The former receptionist declined to comment on her conviction when approached by the Evening Times at her home in Moodiesburn.

Prescriptions have been free in Scotland since April 2011. Charges were abolished in Wales and Northern Ireland in 2007 and 2010 respectively, but in England the standard fee is £8.80.