Nurse suspended after stealing ward paracetamol for her own use
NMC registrant suspended for six months after fitness to practise panel found she did not understand the potential impact on patients of her actions
A nurse was suspended from the register for six months after taking two doses of paracetamol from ward supplies for her own use.
Franchesca Morgan, a band 5 nurse at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside, was seen on CCTV footage taking and swallowing two paracetamol. A few days later, she took a dose of lactulose and was seen to put another two paracetamol into her pocket.
Nurse lacked insight into implications for medicine supplies – FtP panel
This week, a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) fitness to practise committee found that, by reducing the available medication supply, Ms Morgan’s actions had the potential to put patients at unwarranted risk of harm.
The panel said Ms Morgan had not demonstrated a full or developed understanding of the issues raised by the incidents, which took place in June 2021. It concluded that her ability to practise was impaired.
Ms Morgan was convicted of twice stealing paracetamol when she appeared before magistrates the following year.
Taking paracetamol for our own use was commonplace – nurse
In a letter to the NMC, Ms Morgan admitted taking the medication but said she had done so with assumed consent because she was unwell. She said it was common in the ward for staff to take paracetamol for their own use. She had therefore assumed it would not be considered a problem.
A statement by Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s associate director of nursing denied the practice was commonplace on the ward and noted taking drugs from stock for personal use was against the organisation’s medicines management policy.
Nurse’s criminal convictions for paracetamol theft
Nurse Franchesca Morgan was convicted of theft of the medication at Wirral Magistrates’ Court in December 2022. She admitted she had taken paracetamol for herself without permission on two occasions.
She was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £144 in costs and victim surcharge.
Her defence solicitor said she had already been dismissed from her role and lost her home as a result.
In other news