A nurse was caught stealing boxes of medication from a hospital on her day off. Connie Campbell, 26, was snared by colleagues at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital on June 12 2024.
The 26 year-old put on her NHS uniform and went into a treatment room which stored medication. Campbell, of Johnstone, Renfrewshire, lied that she was there for a patient.
She went on to hide in a toilet, changed into her normal clothes before she was caught with 20-30 boxes in her handbag. Campbell pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to a single charge of theft.
The court heard that Campbell – described as a ‘bank nurse’ who takes temporary shifts – was seen on ward 9c which stores medication.
Prosecutor Metja Bowes said: “Campbell was looking through the cupboards. A witness did not recognise her but saw that she was in NHS uniform.”
Campbell was asked if she needed any help as it appeared questionable why she was there. But, the nurse insisted to be “fine” and claimed to be working on a neighbouring ward.
Miss Bowes added: “Campbell stated that she was there to borrow some medication for a patient.”
After Campbell left the room, it was noticed a considerable amount of medication was not there. Campbell was then spotted with a box of medication in her pocket and security was alerted.
Miss Bowes said: “Campbell fled the room and ran into the hallway of the main corridor. She thereafter locked herself in the staff toilets.”
A check was made meantime which found that there was no bank nurse on shift in the ward that day. Campbell was found as she left the toilet – but was in her own clothes.
Miss Bowes said: “Campbell was asked to present her handbag for an inspection and there was 20-30 medication boxes within. This was valued between £500 to £1,000.”
The boxes were described to the court as being over the counter medication. Campbell was arrested before she was released from custody to appear at court at a later date.
Sheriff Mark McGuire put Campbell under supervision for 18 months and ordered her to do 120 hours of unpaid work at the sentencing hearing. The sheriff said: “This was a serious offence which involved a gross breach of trust.
“I recognise at the time that you were suffering from significant mental health issues. Nevertheless, it does not excuse in any way, shape or form what you did.
“I believe there is an alternative to custody but if you breach the order you will go to prison.”