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A nurse has been temporarily struck off after stealing a heroin substitute and then trying to cover up the thefts over five months.

Ben Hewett pinched an unknown amount of diamorphine from the emergency department at Medway hospital on a number of occasions between September 2015 and January 2016.

It is a painkiller which is usually given to patients after surgery, a heart attack or if they have a terminal illness.

A hearing held by the Nursing and Midwifery Council found Hewett, a charge nurse, tried to cover his tracks by signing fake signatures in the controlled drugs book to say painkillers had been given to patients, when they had not.

A witness who gave evidence said the hospital did not know how much diamorphine had been taken but a box of the drug which arrived on Friday, January 22, 2016, was empty by the following day.

The hospital conducted an investigation and found patients who were said to have been given the drug had not been.

Hewett, who did not attend the hearing, admitted stealing the drugs during the hospital’s internal investigation and was fired.

In an email to the Nursing Council, Hewett wrote: “I would like to again sincerely apologise for letting down the nursing profession by my actions.

“I hope and pray that I can continue my career in the profession I love.”

“I sincerely apologise for letting down the nursing profession… I hope and pray I can continue my career in the profession I love” – Ben Hewett

Mr Hewett has been suspended from working as a nurse for 18 months.

Karen McIntyre, deputy director of nursing at Medway hospital, said: “We expect the highest professional standards from our workforce and act swiftly in response to any behaviour that compromises the integrity and credibility of the trust and the field of nursing.

“We became aware of Mr Hewett’s actions in January 2016 and immediately responded by removing him from his duties and referring the matter to the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

“We also offered Mr Hewett support for dealing with his ongoing personal difficulties.

“Following a thorough internal investigation, he was formally dismissed from the trust.

“It is important to stress that his actions did not have an impact upon the safety or quality of care that we provided to our patients during this period.”