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Stafford mental health nurse struck off for stealing from patient

A mental health nurse has been struck off after admitting stealing and using a bank card from a patient at a Stafford hospital.

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St George's Hospital in Stafford

Victoria Taylor received a police caution for theft and fraud on December 13 2018, and has now been struck off as a nurse.

She was caught on CCTV using a bank card of a patient's at St Georges Hospital while wearing her uniform, which she had taken from a locker.

Miss Taylor was employed as a staff nurse at Mid Staffordshire General Hospital NHS Trust on October 1 2017, the report from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) fitness to practise committee says.

The incident took place on the Brockington Ward, at St Georges Hospital, which is a prenatal unit for mothers and babies with mental ill health.

Patient A was an inpatient on the ward and on or around June 2 2018 she handed over her personal belongings including her purse to staff for safe keeping. They were placed in a locker in the staff room.

The patient later went on home leave and left her belongings at the hospital.

But while on leave, she received a call from her bank on or around July 4 2018, informing her that her bank card has been used on several occasions.

Patient A informed the hospital and it was confirmed that her bank card was missing from her purse.

The police undertook an investigation and reviewed CCTV footage, which showed Miss Taylor, in nursing uniform, using Patient A’s card.

It was discovered that Miss Taylor had used Patient A’s card eight times in various shops to the value of £44.36.

On December 13 2018, Miss Taylor was subsequently interviewed by the police. She admitted and accepted a conditional caution for theft and abuse of position.

She had to write a letter of apology to the patient, book, pay for and complete a victim awareness course with the Victim Support Service at a cost of £60, pay compensation to the victim of £44.36, and communicate with and agree to all sanctions, meetings etc arranged by the NMC.

In the report it says: "The panel noted that Miss Taylor used the bank card several times, over a short period of time, of a vulnerable person, Patient A, who had mental health concerns, and to whom Miss Taylor was responsible for providing care.

"As well as Miss Taylor’s actions putting Patient A at risk of harm, they caused actual harm as they involved the financial abuse of a vulnerable adult.

"The panel also considered that Miss Taylor’s behaviour would impact on the trust that Patient A would place in nurses caring for her.

"The panel considered that Miss Taylor’s actions brought the reputation of the nursing profession into disrepute, as they would impact on the trust and confidence placed in nurses by patients, their families and members of the public. The panel considered that such a significant breach of trust by Miss Taylor also breached fundamental tenets of the profession."

An interim suspension order was put in place for 18 months to allow for the possibility of an appeal to be made and determined. But if no appeal is made, then the interim order will be replaced by the striking-off order 28 days after Miss Taylor is sent the decision of this hearing in writing.

A spokesman for Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which now runs the Brockington Unit, said: “We would like to reassure all those who use our services that we take our responsibility for personal possessions very seriously. And take swift action if anything untoward comes to light.”

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