An on-duty NHS nurse who was caught stealing two headache tablets from a hospital pharmacy has been suspended from the career after being informed she stays a 'persevering with hazard to the general public'.
Francesca Morgan misplaced her job at Arrowe Park Hospital, close to Liverpool, after she took paracetamol and co-codamol with out permission when she felt unwell throughout her shift.
Now, a yr and a half later, he has been suspended from your entire career for the following six months.
Miss Morgan was caught after covert surveillance arrange by police recorded her taking the tablets with out written permission on two separate events in June 2022.
Police started investigating after hospital officers seen pharmaceuticals had been disappearing. Tablets had been counted on the finish of each shift and police additionally put in a hidden digital camera.
NHS nurse Francesca Morgan, 32, misplaced her job after she was caught stealing two tablets from the hospital pharmacy to deal with her complications whereas at work.
Now, a yr and a half later, he has been suspended from your entire career for the following six months
And whereas it was not stated Miss Morgan was answerable for widespread drug theft, she was prosecuted for taking co-codamol and paracetamol.
He pleaded responsible in December 2022 to 2 counts of theft by an worker and informed Wirral Magistrates Court docket he had assumed he was allowed to take remedy after feeling unwell throughout a shift.
She additionally informed the court docket that on account of the prosecution she had misplaced her job and residential and had since began residing along with her grandmother.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council has now suspended the nurse for the following six months, with the disciplinary panel discovering she had not proven adequate information about why her actions had been flawed.
In a reflective assertion given as a part of the disciplinary course of, Miss Morgan stated: 'I realise it’s not acceptable to take remedy belonging to the ward because it may very well be seen as theft. I’ve spent many hours reflecting on the scenario I’ve put myself into.'
However the NMC disagreed and described its insights as 'fairly restricted'.
He stated: 'The panel was not satisfied that Ms Morgan demonstrated a full or developed understanding of the problems raised by the confirmed allegations.
'We consider there stays a seamless threat to the general public as a result of registrant's lack of full data and failure to verify the way it will stop this from occurring once more.'
Morgan took a co-codamol pill when she felt unwell whereas working at Arrowe Park Hospital close to Liverpool in June 2021, and a paracetamol pill on one other event
Police started investigating the thefts after well being officers seen prescription medicines had gone lacking from Arrowe Park Hospital between June 6 and June 18 final yr.
The Woolton-based nurse, who was born in the identical city as John Lennon’s childhood house, informed the disciplinary panel she had additionally as soon as taken the laxative lactulose throughout a shift.
In the course of the inside investigation she initially lied and stated she had by no means taken the drug whereas on shift – however when she was proven the CCTV footage she admitted she had taken the drug.
Miss Morgan moved in along with her grandmother after shedding her job at Arrowe Park Hospital and though the NMC famous the “issue” of suspending her medical licence, they stated the general public would lose confidence if they didn’t take decisive motion in opposition to her.
Miss Morgan offered written proof to the NMC by which she stated she 'assumed consent' to take the remedy as a result of she felt unwell and alleged it was 'widespread observe' for workers to prescribe paracetamol on the ward.
Deciding to droop her licence for a interval of six months, the panel, chaired by Konrad Krzanowski, stated: 'The panel famous that such an order would undoubtedly trigger hardship to Ms Morgan.
Miss Morgan went to dwell along with her grandmother after she misplaced her job at Arrowe Park Hospital.
'Nevertheless, the general public curiosity on this case outweighs this. The panel thought-about that this order was essential to mark the significance of sustaining public confidence within the career and to ship a transparent message to the general public and the career about the usual of behaviour anticipated of a registered nurse.
'The Panel decided {that a} suspension order for a interval of 6 months was applicable on this case given the severity of the misconduct.'
Miss Morgan was given a 12-month conditional discharge pending her prison sentence listening to in December 2022. She was additionally ordered to pay £144 in prices and a sufferer surcharge price.
Talking at that listening to, prosecutor Yvonne Dobson stated: 'The defendant was additionally seen taking remedy for no legit purpose. She was stealing remedy for herself. On the primary event, she took some co-codamol… on the second event it was paracetamol.'
'Miss Dobson stated he had been seen swallowing the tablets with a drink… she believed he had agreed to take the remedy. There was a scarcity of earlier convictions however he had now misplaced his good character.'
