On-duty NHS nurse caught stealing two headache tablets from hospital pharmacy is suspended from profession and told she poses 'a continuing risk to the public'

An on-duty NHS nurse who was caught stealing two headache tablets from a hospital pharmacy has been suspended from the profession after being told she poses a 'continuing risk to the public'. 

Franchesca Morgan lost her job at Arrowe Park Hospital, near Liverpool, after taking paracetamol and co-codamol without permission when she felt unwell during her shift.

Now, a year and a half later, she's been suspended from the entire profession for the next six months.

Miss Morgan was caught after covert surveillance, installed by police, recorded her taking the pills on two separate occasions, in June 2022, without getting written permission first.

Police launched a probe after hospital bosses noticed prescription medication had been going missing. A tablet count was put in place at the end of each shift and a secret camera installed by police.

And whilst it wasn't suggested that Miss Morgan was responsible for the wider medication theft, she was prosecuted for taking the co-codamol and paracetamol.

She pleaded guilty in December 2022 to two counts of theft by an employee and told Wirral Magistrates' Court that she assumed she was allowed to take the medication after feeling unwell during the shifts.

She also told the court that she had lost her job and house as a result of the prosecution and had since moved in with her grandmother.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council has now suspended the nurse for the next six months and after a disciplinary panel found she hadn't displayed enough insight as to why her actions were wrong.

In a reflective statement provided as part of the disciplinary process, Miss Morgan said: 'I realise it is not acceptable to take medication belonging to the ward as this could be seen as theft. I have spent many hours reflecting on the situation I placed myself in.'

But the NMC remained unconvinced and described her insight as 'quite limited'.

They said: 'The panel was not convinced that Miss Morgan demonstrated a full or developed understanding of the issues raised by the proven allegations.

'We consider there is a continuing risk to the public due to the registrant's lack of full insight and failure to confirm how she would prevent it from occurring again.'

The Woolton-based nurse, born in the same town as John Lennon's childhood home, told the disciplinary panel she had also once taken the laxative lactulose whilst on shift.

She initially lied during an internal investigation and said she had never consumed the medication whilst on shift - before accepting she had done so after being presented with CCTV footage.

Having lost her job at Arrowe Park Hospital, Miss Morgan moved in with her grandmother as a result and whilst the NMC 'noted the hardship' of suspending her medical licence they said the public would lose confidence if they didn't take decisive action against her.

Miss Morgan provided written evidence to the NMC in which she said she 'assumed consent' for taking the medication as she was feeling unwell and alleged that staff taking paracetamol was 'commonplace' within the ward.

In determining to suspend her licence for a period of six months, the panel - chaired by Konrad Chrzanowski - said: 'The panel noted the hardship such an order will inevitably cause Miss Morgan.

'However, this is outweighed by the public interest in this case. The panel considered that this order is necessary to mark the importance of maintaining public confidence in the profession, and to send to the public and the profession a clear message about the standard of behaviour required of a registered nurse.

'The panel determined that a suspension order for a period of 6 months was appropriate in this case to mark the seriousness of the misconduct.'

Miss Morgan was handed a 12-month conditional discharge at the criminal sentencing hearing in December 2022. She was also ordered to pay £144 in costs and victim surcharge fees.

Speaking at that hearing, prosecutor Yvonne Dobson said: The defendant was also seen to take medication without a legitimate reason. She was stealing the medication for herself. On the first occasion, she took some co-codamol.. On the second occasion it was paracetamol.'

'Miss Dobson said that she was seen swallowing tablets with a drink.. She believed that she had implied consent to take the medication. There was a lack of previous convictions but she has now lost her good character.'