‘I shouldn’t have done it’: nurse apologises for false time sheets, but is struck off
Posted 06 August 2024 - 14:40
Denise Balanza falsely claimed pay for ten shifts after facing ‘financial pressures’ a Nursing and Midwifery Council fitness to practise panel heard
An agency nurse who had faced ‘financial pressures’ has been struck off by the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) after she falsified hours on her timesheets.
Nurse paid back almost £2,800 of falsely claimed pay
Denise Balanza apologised for her actions and repaid almost £2,800 to her employer for ten shifts that she had fraudulently claimed from June to October 2022.
In a hearing on 20 July the NMC panel found her actions dishonest and at risk of being repeated and ordered the nurse to be struck off the register.
The panel said: ‘Ms Balanza has also not provided evidence of any steps taken to address her failings so as to reduce the risk of repetition if faced with financial pressures again in the future.’
Ms Balanza was referred to the NMC’s fitness to practise (FtP) process at the end of 2022 by the Royal Preston Hospital while working as an agency nurse for Medical Staffing Ltd. It followed allegations that she had falsified some timesheets.
Nurse expresses regret in statement to misconduct hearing
At the FtP hearing, the panel heard that Ms Balanza had previously admitted to her manager in an email exchange that she had submitted inaccurate information.
In a subsequent statement to the NMC she said: ‘I am extremely sorry and I totally regret doing what I did. I shouldn’t have done it in the first place and I should have been honest with it.’
Emmanuel Coniah, a lawyer acting on behalf of the NMC, told the hearing that the nurse’s actions ‘seriously undermine her trustworthiness as a registered professional and bring the nursing profession into disrepute’.
He also submitted that there had been personal financial gain for Ms Balanza and that her actions were ‘premeditated, long standing and systematic’. The panel also noted that the money could have been diverted from patient care.
One manager at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary vouched for the nurse and submitted a positive reference shortly after her referral.
The letter said: ‘I have no concerns regarding her practice under the NMC code of conduct or any concerns regarding her honesty.’
Interim suspension will allow nurse to appeal the decision
Although the hearing noted that Ms Balanza had previously written two reflective statements and shown some insight and remorse into her actions, they said there was a lack of evidence of a change of attitude or behaviour.
As well as a striking off order the panel imposed an interim suspension order of 18 months to allow for an appeal. Ms Balanza has 28 days to launch an appeal.
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