Nurse is struck off over fraud

A former nurse at Forth Valley Royal Hospital who claimed benefits to which she was not entitled has been struck off.

A Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) hearing has found that Avril Morrison failed to disclose her conviction for benefits fraud to bosses at NHS Forth Valley.

Morrison had falsely told investigators from the Department for Work and Pensions that her employment with NHS Forth Valley didn’t include ‘hands on’ care of patients ‘as such’ during an interview under caution in December, 2013.

During the interview, Morrison said: “Well my title is a nurse but I deal more with the student side of things”.

When asked what that involved, Morrison replied: “Mentoring, student mentoring and just sort of guidance.

When asked if her role was “hands on” Morrison stated that it was not.

An NMC witness later told how Morrison’s job actually involved “all aspects of patient care”, including assessing patients, taking blood samples and giving medication.

From February to June 2015 she failed to inform health bosses that she had been charged with the offence.

She was convicted at Falkirk Sheriff Court in December 2015.

Morrison claimed benefits totalling approximately £87,000 from the public purse. She accepted a deal to re–pay £4,500 before being sentenced, with the remaining sum to be paid back at £100 per month. She was admonished in March, 2016.

The NMC panel conducting the hearing, noted: “Mrs Morrison’s case involves a lack of honesty and probity. Although Mrs Morrison’s dishonest conduct did not directly involve any patient harm, the panel is of the view that, in light of Mrs Morrison’s past dishonesty and lack of trustworthiness, there is a future risk that her behaviour has the potential to impact on patitents in her care.”

The panel decided to place Morrison on an interim suspension order for 18 months.

NHS Forth Valley say that Morrison no longer works as a registered nurse.