Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSNMC reprieve for nurse caught using cocaine and cannabis
A history of using cocaine and cannabis does not mean that a psychiatric nurse is unfit to practise, the NMC has ruled.
The NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) heard that Victoria Wheeler, 36, had not had a drug habit or been under the influence while working at Llanarth Court Psychiatric Hospital in Raglan, Monmouthshire.
And it found that although being cautioned by police for possession had brought the profession into disrepute, Ms Wheeler no longer used drugs and patients had not been put at risk.
Conduct and competence committee chairwoman Lesley White said: `The registrant’s fitness to practise was impaired by reason of her breaches of the code of conduct. But the panel is satisfied that the registrant has learned her lesson.`
Ms Wheeler, from Cardiff, was suspended from work for a month after she left a purse containing cocaine in a taxi. She said she had snorted cocaine very rarely, and that she used to smoke cannabis every few days.
The hospital had allowed her to keep her job - she was recently promoted to team leader - on condition she took two random drugs tests, which were never actually conducted.
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Readers' comments (2)
henrietta simire | 9-Apr-2009 1:42 am
i really think this nurse should go for help and stop using cannabis and cocaine completely otherwise how safe is the CD in the hospital
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PhilB | 20-May-2009 2:48 pm
I think that in this case, it was the correct decision...
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