Nurse nicked IV fluids to treat himself
A nurse who was caught stealing IV fluids from hospital to treat his own health problems has been suspended for just eight months.
Piotr Sedlak tried to leave the Paige Ward at St Thomas’s hospital in south London with the medication.
He was caught after his bag was searched in the hospital, the Nursing and Midwifery Council heard.
He had been seen entering the male changing room with the IV fluids on February 27 2015.
His bag was then inspected, with a bag of IV fluid and a box of anti nausea drug Cyclizine found.
Police were called, and Sedlak was convicted of theft at Camberwell Magistrates Court.
He was handed a community order with a requirement to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and fined £145.
Sedlak told the NMC hearing he had serious health issues at the time of the offences, and that the medication was to relieve his symptoms.
The NMC found that his actions were serious, but that there was a low risk of repetition.
As a result, he has avoided being struck off, and was instead handed an 8 month suspension order.
Panel chairman Paul Morris said: ‘You have been convicted of a serious offence.
‘The offence related to theft of medication from your employer at your place of work.
‘You have demonstrated significant insight into your actions and are clearly remorseful.
‘In light of the insight you have demonstrated, the isolated nature of the incident which led to your conviction and the circumstances in which it occurred, the panel determined that there is a low risk of repetition.
‘A suspension order is appropriate and should be for a period of eight months.’
Sedlak, who attended the hearing, was suspended for eight months, with an interim suspension of 18 months.
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