Mia Williams
A sacked NHS nurse has been told she was a public ‘risk’, after taking hospital tablets to treat a headache.
Francesca Morgan, 32, from Woolton, was found to have stolen hospital pills while working at Arrowe Park Hospital near Liverpool.
Morgan was caught in the act, after secret cameras were installed by police to find out who was taking them.
The police launched the probe after hospital bosses had noticed prescription medication had been disappearing.
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A tablet count was then put in place at the end of the day, as well as the covert camera.
The NHS nurse was caught on two occasions, taking paracetamol and co-codamol, after developing a headache during a shift.
During a hearing at Wirral Magistrates' Court, Morgan pleaded guilty to two counts of theft by employee between 6 June and 18 June 2021.
Prosecuting, Yvonne Dobson told the court that a number of staff were found to have acted inappropriately with hospital drugs.
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In a reflective statement, Morgan said: “I realise it is not acceptable to take medication belonging to the ward as this could be seen as theft.
“I have spent many hours reflecting on the situation I placed myself in.”
But following this, The Nursing and Midwifery Council regarded her statement as unconvincing.
They said: “The panel was not convinced that Miss Morgan demonstrated a full or developed understanding of the issues raised by the proven allegations.
“We consider there is a continuing risk to the public due to the registrant's lack of full insight and failure to confirm how she would prevent it from occurring again.”
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Earlier in an internal investigation, Morgan lied and said she had never consumed medication while on shift.
She later retracted that claim, after watching the footage of her doing so.
Morgan assumed that consent for taking the medication was implied, after she alleged that taking paracetamol wasn't unusual on the ward.
Dobson expanded on this, and said: “These are two limited incidents.
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“She believed that she had implied consent to take the medication.
“There was a lack of previous convictions but she has now lost her good character.”
Morgan was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £144 in costs and victim surcharge.
Handing down the sentence, Chairman Peter Mawdsley said: "You have already suffered the loss of your job and your home.
“In light of that a conditional discharge is appropriate."