Nurse allowed to return to hospital despite theft

A NURSE accused of tampering with saline at a hospital can return to work despite admitting to the theft of opiate-based drugs, a regulatory body has ruled.

But Rebecca Leighton will not be able to return to her job immediately while internal inquiries continue.

The 27-year-old spent more than six weeks in custody after she was suspected of tampering with saline solution at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport and arrested in July.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) ordered an interim suspension on 2 August – a month before charges against her were dropped.

Reviewing her ban in London yesterday, a panel heard how Miss Leighton had confessed to theft when quizzed by police.

Although the panel lifted her suspension, allowing her to continue to practise, she was made subject to a series of conditions including that she can only work at Stepping Hill.

But in a statement, the hospital said Miss Leighton would remain suspended from work on full pay.

Speaking after the hearing in London, Miss Leighton said she was intent on “fully” clearing her name: “The CPS dropped all charges against me and I hoped that the NMC would take this into account and allow me to go back to the job I love without any conditions attached.”