Suspended jail sentence for nurse who ran Botox business while on sick leave
Nicola Bevan also forged prescriptions to obtain cosmetic products for private work
An NHS mental health nurse who ran a private Botox business while on paid sick leave has been spared jail after admitting fraud and forgery.
Nicola Bevan, of Pencoed, Bridgend, Wales, received 11,200 in sick pay from Abertawe Bro Margannwg University Health Board (AMBU) between December 2016 and June 2017.
Over the same period, the 43-year-old also worked at her own cosmetic private practice Youthful You Wales, earning her a further 14,400.
Duplicating prescriptions to obtain cosmetics
When an investigation was launched by AMBU Health Board counter fraud specialists, it was also discovered she had forged and duplicated 33 prescriptions to obtain Botox and other cosmetic products for her private work.
Ms Bevan, who had worked for the
Nicola Bevan also forged prescriptions to obtain cosmetic products for private work
An NHS mental health nurse who ran a private Botox business while on paid sick leave has been spared jail after admitting fraud and forgery.
Nicola Bevan, of Pencoed, Bridgend, Wales, received £11,200 in sick pay from Abertawe Bro Margannwg University Health Board (AMBU) between December 2016 and June 2017.
Over the same period, the 43-year-old also worked at her own cosmetic private practice Youthful You Wales, earning her a further £14,400.
Duplicating prescriptions to obtain cosmetics
When an investigation was launched by AMBU Health Board counter fraud specialists, it was also discovered she had forged and duplicated 33 prescriptions to obtain Botox and other cosmetic products for her private work.
Ms Bevan, who had worked for the health board for 11 years before resigning in October 2017, pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud by false representation and one count of forgery.
She received a 15-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, at Cardiff Crown Court on 3 October.
Ms Bevan was also ordered to pay £2,935 in legal costs and carry out 200 hours of unpaid community work.
She has already paid back the £11,200 in sick pay to her former employers.
NHS fraud ‘will not go unaddressed’
Len Cozens, head of local counter fraud services for ABMU Health Board, said following the sentencing: ‘The result shows that fraud committed against the NHS will not go unaddressed.
'The majority of nurses and other healthcare professionals in the health service are hard-working and honest, with a minority letting their colleagues down.'
Nurse might be subject to fitness to practise referral
Nursing and Midwifery Council fitness to practise deputy director Clare Strickland said: ‘We’re aware of this offence, which raises serious concerns about the individual.
‘While we’re unable to discuss any potential or actual fitness to practise referrals until they reach a public hearing stage, where concerns are raised with us we will investigate and take appropriate regulatory action.’
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