A former NHS Lanarkshire nurse, based at University Hospital Wishaw, has been struck off after admitting stealing medication.
Between October and November 2023, Louise Graham took medication from the hospital supplies on more than one occasion.
Staff reported to senior management that medication, specifically diazepam, was going missing from the Ward stock.
On November 14 2023, Mrs Graham was on duty having worked a night shift alongside another member of staff.
During the shift, the staff member identified that a full box of diazepam (28 tablets) had disappeared from the secure medication cupboard.
The staff member reported this to senior management, who attended the Ward and questioned the staff on duty.
Mrs Graham initially denied taking the medication; however, when asked for consent to a bag search, Mrs Graham admitted to taking the medication.
The case was referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council who have released their report following an investigation.
The NMC panel determined that there is clear evidence that Mrs Graham knew she was not entitled to take the diazepam that she did, but she did so anyway.
The report states: “The panel was of the view that Mrs Graham was in a senior position and that stealing medication has the potential to create a risk of harm to patients.
“The panel was of the view that patients in need of the medication Mrs Graham had stolen, would not have had access to them as and when required.
“The panel determined that Mrs Graham’s conduct involves a serious departure from the standards expected of a registered nurse and the facts are sufficiently serious to amount to misconduct.
“The panel determined that Mrs Graham’s actions had the potential to undermine the confidence and trust placed in her profession by colleagues, patients, the wider public and the NMC as regulator.
“The panel was of the view that Mrs Graham’s actions did fall significantly short of the standards expected of a registered nurse, her actions amounted to a breach of the Code, as identified by the NMC and amounted to misconduct.”
The panel noted that Mrs Graham’s colleagues have said that she was a good nurse but they had noticed a deterioration in her demeanour, weight loss, erratic behaviour and tiredness in the morning.
The NMC decided to hit Mrs Graham with a striking off sanction with an 18-month interim suspension order also being imposed.
The report adds: “The conduct, as highlighted by the facts found proved, was a significant departure from the standards expected of a registered nurse.
“The panel determined that the serious breach of the fundamental tenets of the profession evidenced by Mrs Graham’s actions is incompatible with her remaining on the register.
“In this particular case, the panel determined that a suspension order would not be a sufficient, appropriate or proportionate sanction.
“The panel determined that Mrs Graham’s actions were significant departures from the standards expected of a registered nurse, and are fundamentally incompatible with her remaining on the register.
“The panel was of the view that the findings in this particular case demonstrate that Mrs Graham’s actions were serious and to allow her to continue practising would undermine public confidence in the profession and in the NMC as a regulatory body.
“Balancing all of these factors and after taking into account all the evidence before it during this case, the panel determined that the appropriate and proportionate sanction is that of a striking-off order.
“Having regard to the matters it identified, in particular the effect of Mrs Graham’s actions in bringing the profession into disrepute by adversely affecting the public’s view of how a registered nurse should conduct herself, the panel has concluded that nothing short of this would be sufficient in this case.
“As the striking-off order cannot take effect until the end of the 28-day appeal period, the panel has considered whether an interim order is required in the specific circumstances of this case.
“It may only make an interim order if it is satisfied that it is necessary for the protection of the public, is otherwise in the public interest or in Mrs Graham’s own interests until the striking-off sanction takes effect. The panel accepted the advice of the legal assessor.
“The panel was satisfied that an interim order is necessary for the protection of the public and is otherwise in the public interest. The panel had regard to the seriousness of the facts found proved and the reasons set out in its decision for the substantive order in reaching the decision to impose an interim order.
“The panel concluded that an interim conditions of practice order would not be appropriate or proportionate in this case, due to the reasons already identified in the panel’s determination for imposing the substantive order. The panel therefore imposed an interim suspension order for a period of 18 months.”
An NHS Lanarkshire spokesperson said: “This individual is no longer employed by NHS Lanarkshire.”
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