Nurse who pilfered drugs and downed sherry on duty is struck off

A NURSE who drank sherry and stole drugs from a patients’ trolley while working a night shift at a hospital has been struck off after a hearing.

Rodina Margaret Mitchell, 62, admitted five charges of misconduct when she was working at Biggart Hospital in Prestwick, Ayrshire, including the theft of tramadol or co-codamol from a drugs trolley.

A Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) hearing was told Ms Mitchell had been drinking during a shift in October 2010 when she was responsible for looking after elderly patients.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She was then asked by a charge nurse, Karen Wilson, whether she had taken any drugs from the hospital, which she denied. Ms Mitchell said the drugs she had were prescribed by her GP.

The hearing was told she admitted taking “two 50mg strips of tramadol and/or one 30/500mg strip of co-codamol from a drug trolley on the ward for [her] own personal use”.

Announcing its decision, the NMC panel said: “In drinking alcohol on duty, Ms Mitchell placed her patients at unwarranted risk of harm.

“Her lack of recognition of the risk her actions represented means that the panel could have no confidence that she would not repeat her actions.

“Ms Mitchell’s actions and her dishonesty will undoubtedly have brought the reputation of the profession into disrepute.

“Members of the public do not expect nurses to drink alcohol when they are on duty and have responsibility for patients’ lives and wellbeing.

“Nor does the public expect nurses to steal medication intended for the care of patients.”

The NMC panel continued: “The panel finds that Ms Mitchell’s misconduct and her dishonesty has seriously undermined confidence in the profession and is fundamentally incompatible with her remaining on the register.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The only sanction sufficient to protect the public and maintain and uphold public confidence in the nursing profession and the NMC as regulator is to strike the registrant off the register.”

The NMC said Ms Mitchell had not apologised for her actions, and her only contact with the NMC was to admit the charges and the fact she was no longer fit to practise.

It also pointed out that the hearing was not provided with testimonial references.

“Ms Mitchell has offered no information to suggest she recognises the risks she posed to her patients when she drank alcohol on duty, nor the damage that her actions will have caused to public confidence in the profession,” it said.

“She was offered support and help from her employer but declined that offer.

“She has not engaged with the NMC in addressing the concerns regarding her fitness to practise, except to admit the facts and concede that her fitness to practise is impaired. Ms Mitchell has provided no information to suggest she had taken any steps to remediate her misconduct.”

After the hearing, Ms Mitchell refused to comment, saying only: “That’s what I wanted.”

Related topics: