An NHS nurse, Franchesca Morgan, found herself in a troublesome situation when she was caught stealing headache tablets from Arrowe Park Hospital near Liverpool. As a result, she lost her job and has been deemed ‘a risk to the public’ by an NHS panel.
In June 2022, a covert surveillance operation at the hospital was conducted to identify the individual responsible for the medication thefts. Franchesca was caught on camera taking medication for her headaches on two separate occasions without proper authorization. She later claimed that she believed it was common practice for nurses to take medication during their shifts to alleviate their symptoms. However, this assumption led to severe consequences for Franchesca.
Despite her explanation, Franchesca pleaded guilty to two counts of theft by an employee at Wirral Magistrates’ Court in December 2022. She received a 12-month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £144 in costs and victim surcharge fees.
Sadly, the aftermath of the criminal case took a toll on Franchesca’s life. She lost her job at Arrowe Park Hospital, was forced to give up her home, and had to move in with her grandmother. Now, 18 months later, her struggle continues as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has suspended her medical license for an additional six months.
In her reflective statement, Franchesca expressed her realization that taking medication belonging to the ward could be seen as theft. She acknowledges her mistake and has spent many hours reflecting on the choices she made.
The NMC’s decision to suspend her license was based on their belief that Franchesca did not demonstrate a full understanding of the consequences of her actions. They deemed her lack of insight as a continuing risk to the public.
Explaining their ruling, they stated their concern that she had not fully addressed the issues raised by the proven allegations and had not provided a clear plan to prevent such incidents from occurring again.
While the panel acknowledged the hardship Franchesca will face without a job, they emphasized the importance of maintaining public confidence in the nursing profession. They believe that a clear message about the expected standards of behavior for registered nurses must be sent to both the public and the profession.
This suspension order for six months serves as a reminder of the seriousness of Franchesca’s misconduct and the necessity of upholding professional standards.
