A nurse working at Morriston Hospital in Swansea was caught stealing blank prescription forms to obtain strong sleeping tablets for herself, a court has heard. Laura Davies, a mother-of-three, swiped the paperwork during a visit to her GP, which she then fraudulently completed with the intention of getting her hands on zopiclone tablets.
Swansea Crown Court was informed that Davies, who was a band-five staff nurse at the hospital, attended a medical practice in Skewen as a patient where she took four blank prescription forms. She later filled them out to make it appear as if they were prescribed by the Tonna Hospital community mental health team. Subsequently, she took the fraudulent forms to pharmacies in Morriston where she obtained two boxes of 28 tablets on two occasions in January.
However, her third attempt to get tablets failed due to errors on the form, leading to an investigation. CCTV footage revealed that Davies had handed in the forms, leading to her identification and subsequent arrest at her home in February. During the investigation, Davies admitted to stealing the forms, filling them in, and taking them to the pharmacies. She also admitted to taking three zopiclone tablets intended for patients while on duty at the hospital.
In court, Davies pleaded guilty to theft, theft by an employee, and making false instruments under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981. Despite having no previous convictions, Davies faced the possibility of losing her job as a result of her actions. The judge, Huw Rees, acknowledged Davies’ struggles with mental health issues and exhaustion, which had led to her committing the offences.
Davies was sentenced to 12 months in prison, with the term suspended for 18 months. As part of her sentence, she will need to complete a rehabilitation course, receive mental health treatment, and undertake 150 hours of unpaid work in the community. Her defence barrister highlighted her client’s remorse and embarrassment, attributing her actions to a breakdown caused by work pressures and exhaustion.
The judge emphasised the seriousness of the offending and the impact it had on Davies, who had previously achieved a first-class degree in business management before entering the nursing profession. He noted that Davies had faced adversity in her life but had managed to better herself before succumbing to the pressures that led to her offences.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing mental health issues in the workplace and seeking help when needed. It also highlights the consequences of resorting to illegal means to cope with challenges, even for individuals in positions of trust and responsibility. Davies’ story underscores the need for compassion and support for those struggling with mental health issues in all professions.