Nurse struck off for stealing and taking drugs “two or three” times a day while on duty at Dorset County Hospital – Bournemouth Echo

[he stole] Oramorph and Codeine from the Purbeck Ward and on one or more occasions [he consumed] Oramorph and Codeine while on duty.

Oramorph and Codeine are both pain medications.

The NMC received a referral from DCH, where Mr Taylor worked at the time, alleging that medication was misappropriated by him.

He is alleged to have admitted using 150ml to 300ml of Oramorph and approximately 14 30mg tablets of Codeine daily from December 2014, with the dosage gradually increasing to what it was in June 2015.

During the internal investigations Mr Taylor admitted taking the drugs from the drugs trolley and consuming them whilst carrying out medication rounds.

The volume taken varied but he took the medication two or three times a day for a period of six months.

Mr Taylor told DCH that he took the drugs because he was “suffering from a stressful time in his personal life” as well as health problems.

The panel noted that whilst there appears not to have been any patient harm, Mr Taylor’s theft of medication and consumption put patients at “unwarranted risk of harm”.

Mr Taylor submitted a reflective piece of writing to the NMC, focusing mainly on his health.

The NMC’s panel found that he did not acknowledge sufficiently the effect his actions had on patients, colleagues and the public.

The panel said that the piece showed Mr Taylor was more concerned with attempting to excuse his actions rather than take full responsibility.

The panel identified several aggravating features when deciding its summary, including that it wasn’t an isolated incident and took place several times daily over a prolonged period of time, and that the offending was extremely serious and persistent.

The fact that he was suffering from health problems and difficult personal circumstances and he that he admitted all the charges were mitigating factors.

The panel issued a striking off order and an 18-month interim suspension order.

A spokesman for Dorset County Hospital said: ‘”The Trust encourages staff with alcohol or drug related problems to seek and accept help in the knowledge that both management and colleagues are committed to providing assistance. The Trust responds robustly in response to allegations of theft or of staff working under the influence of drugs / alcohol. Mr Taylor is no longer employed by Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. No patients came to harm under his care.”

Mr Taylor was not in attendance at the hearing as he did not feel able to attend due to his health.