Nurse accused of stealing from patient found guilty of misconduct

A nurse accused of withdrawing thousands of euro from the account of a terminally-ill patient has been found guilty of professional misconduct by a Nursing and Midwifery Board Fitness to Practise Inquiry.

Nurse Elizabeth Yvonne Williamson admitted one allegation that she used the patient’s bank card to buy goods at an Asda Supermarket in Northern Ireland.

She also faced allegations that she used the ATM card belonging to a resident of the Bloomfield Care Centre in Rathfarnham, Dublin, to withdraw more than €5,000 at various times between October 10th, 2011 and May 8th, 2012.

The patient, identified only by the letters KD was suffering from terminal prostate cancer, and had chosen not to press charges against Nurse Williamson, then working under her maiden name of Claffey, as he did not want to see her again, the inquiry was told.

Full details of the sanction to be applied by the Nursing and Midwifery Board and its determination on the full range of allegations are to be published on the board’s website at a future date.

At the opening of the inquiry earlier this year the Board’s Fitness to Practise Committee was told by Ms Williamson’s barrister that she was admitting one count of using Mr KD’s card without his permission for the transaction in Asda, acknowledging this amounted to professional misconduct.

However at a resumed Fitness to Practise inquiry on Monday counsel for the chief executive of the Nursing and Midwifery Board Neasa Bird, said a letter had been received stating Ms Williamson would not be attending any further hearings of the inquiry and would not be legally represented.

Ms Bird said the letter had made certain allegations against others in who had not had these allegations put to them. As Ms Williamson would not be available for cross examination on this defence,it would not be appropriate to read the letter into the inquiry record in public session, she said.

Garda Rossa Smith of Rathfarnham Garda Station gave evidence that he had been called to the Bloomfield Care Centre by its deputy chief executive, Roger Smith, in September or October 2012.

Garda Smith said he interviewed KD who pointed to a series of bank withdrawals which he said were unauthorised.

One withdrawal occurred when Mr KD had instructed Ms Williamson to get cash from an ATM to buy chocolates and flowers for his sister, Garda Smith said. He said KD had recounted how he had authorised Ms Williamson to withdraw €50 to cover the cost, but a bank statement had later indicated €200 had been withdrawn.

Garda Smith said Ms Williamson, interviewed under caution had maintained she had been instructed to take out €200. In relation to other withdrawals Ms Williamson either denied making them, or said they were at KD’s behest and for his benefit. In relation to the trip to Asda in Northern Ireland Garda Smith said Ms Williamson had said she had initially tried to use her own cards to pay for goods which had not worked, and embarrassed in the queue had then decided to used KD’s card.

The inquiry heard that Mr KD decided not to pursue the matter as he did not want to see Ms Williamson, who no longer worked at the care centre, again.