Rebecca Leighton

[Loose]

Rebecca lost her appeal against her sacking for stealing drugs from Stepping Hill Hospital. I'm not suggesting it was the wrong verdict, but I was slightly surprised by it.

 

It's a shame that this country spent hundreds of thousands of pounds training a person to be a nurse and then that person betrays that trust and investment by stealing prescription medication (and we're not talking over the counter stuff either). The implications of ignoring an act of gross misconduct would set a precedent indicating that other members of staff could take that as a licence for a free for all and firstly what would be the on costs to the taxpayer and secondly where would the drugs be when they are needed for patient use? A total nonsense that the PC brigade would be surprised and horrified at a decision based on public interest not the interests of a dishonest individual.

 

Of course everyone deserves a second chance in life and I hope Ms Leighton takes it in another sphere now, she's gotten off lightly in some respects as a self confessed thief and maybe will find something else in life to do, hopefully where she is happy and doesn't re-offend again.

[missunderstood]

Rebecca lost her appeal against her sacking for stealing drugs from Stepping Hill Hospital. I'm not suggesting it was the wrong verdict, but I was slightly surprised by it.

 

It's a shame that this country spent hundreds of thousands of pounds training a person to be a nurse and then that person betrays that trust and investment by stealing prescription medication (and we're not talking over the counter stuff either). The implications of ignoring an act of gross misconduct would set a precedent indicating that other members of staff could take that as a licence for a free for all and firstly what would be the on costs to the taxpayer and secondly where would the drugs be when they are needed for patient use? A total nonsense that the PC brigade would be surprised and horrified at a decision based on public interest not the interests of a dishonest individual.

 

Of course everyone deserves a second chance in life and I hope Ms Leighton takes it in another sphere now, she's gotten off lightly in some respects as a self confessed thief and maybe will find something else in life to do, hopefully where she is happy and doesn't re-offend again.

 

My understanding of the situation is that Rebecca has lost her appeal to be reinstated at Stepping Hill Hospital but can still practise as a nurse elsewhere.

 

I spoke to a nurse about this subject a month ago and she told me it was fairly common practice for nurses to take non prescription painkiller drugs for their own personal use because doctors were either to busy, or they trusted the nurses as they are highly trained in medical practise.

 

I don't have any firm views on the verdict, but I hope Rebecca can have a successful career in nursing if that is what she wants, and I believe her experiences from the last year could well make her a better, stronger and more caring person.

Edited February 4, 2012 by missunderstood

[Loose]

Rebecca lost her appeal against her sacking for stealing drugs from Stepping Hill Hospital. I'm not suggesting it was the wrong verdict, but I was slightly surprised by it.

 

It's a shame that this country spent hundreds of thousands of pounds training a person to be a nurse and then that person betrays that trust and investment by stealing prescription medication (and we're not talking over the counter stuff either). The implications of ignoring an act of gross misconduct would set a precedent indicating that other members of staff could take that as a licence for a free for all and firstly what would be the on costs to the taxpayer and secondly where would the drugs be when they are needed for patient use? A total nonsense that the PC brigade would be surprised and horrified at a decision based on public interest not the interests of a dishonest individual.

 

Of course everyone deserves a second chance in life and I hope Ms Leighton takes it in another sphere now, she's gotten off lightly in some respects as a self confessed thief and maybe will find something else in life to do, hopefully where she is happy and doesn't re-offend again.

 

My understanding of the situation is that Rebecca has lost her appeal to be reinstated at Stepping Hill Hospital but can still practise as a nurse elsewhere.

 

I spoke to a nurse about this subject about a month ago and she told me it was fairly common practice for nurses to take non prescription painkiller drugs for their own personal use because doctors where either to busy, or they trusted the nurses as they are highly trained in medical practise.

 

I think thats interesting and I don't disbelieve that you believe what you've been told. I'm not an expert but I am married to a nurse and her opinion varies. Her feeling is that she has never been aware of this common practise and that use of NHS controlled medicines by doctors and nurses in self prescribing and or diagnosing can be cause for being stuck off your professional body, she says it just wouldn't happen with prescription drugs and that these are so carefully monitored and accounted for that a serious incident is declared if stock does not tally after a shift. That if drugs are taken and the tally is concealed is even more cause for concern.

 

It is theft plain and simple, and Rebecca Leighton stole controlled drugs not non prescribed drugs - lets be clear, the keys to the controlled drugs trolley held by the nurse in charge of the shift, only one set are held. If a patient asks for a couple of paracetamol then thats a different matter, a nurse can issue and then log but only if they have been subscribed and definitely not for prescribed controlled drugs.

 

People may like to liken it to taken the odd bit of stationery from an office you work in but paper isn't dangerous unless you count paper cuts and it is still on the same level as shoplifting - probably worse because when a person shoplifts they aren't in a position of trust, a bit of pilfering from your workplace isn't clever BECAUSE you are trusted, it's low and deceitful.

 

Please let me know which NHS Hospital Trust employs Rebecca in the future, I'm keen to hear.

[Part Time Par]

_{I'm lost for words:}

 

if only Clifford, if only!