A nurse who stole prescription drugs to fund her cocaine addiction receives striking-off order
In a stunning incident, a nurse has been struck off after admitting to stealing prescription drugs from NHS wards to fund her cocaine addiction. 31-year-old Amie Louise Heller sold prescription drugs to her friends. She then used her ill-gotten gains to buy cocaine at discount rates.
Heller was an employee at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, Lancashire, from where she stole the prescription drugs. The mother-of-one from Ribchester pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs (cocaine). She also pleaded guilty to supplying controlled drugs of Class B and C.
The former nurse was caught after the hospital received an anonymous tip that drugs were being stolen from the wards in July 2015. Authorities at the hospital carried out stock checks and it soon became clear that there were discrepancies between what was ordered and what was in stock.
11 days later, Heller was arrested from work. In December 2016, Preston Crown Court heard that the nurse was also using cocaine during the time when she was stealing the drugs. She allegedly received cocaine to sell to her friends who gave her a discount in return.
Both Heller and Lloyd-Haydock were convicted and sent to prison for almost four years in January. Now, following a hearing of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, Heller has been struck off. The striking off order will come into force 28 days after Heller is sent the decision of the hearing in writing.
According to the Daily Mirror, the report read, "The panel determined that public confidence in the nursing profession would be irreparably damaged if a nurse who had been convicted of theft of drugs from her employer and the supply of drugs including class A drugs, was not found currently impaired."
Heller has been given an interim suspension order for 18 months. If she so wishes, an appeal can be made and determined within this time. If no appeal is made within 28 days, the striking off order will replace the suspension. According to her LinkedIn page, Heller has retrained as a beauty therapist.
The panel also added that Heller had been “truly sorry” for her past behavior. She reportedly wants to be a “positive role model in the future”.
"This order was necessary to mark the importance of maintaining public confidence in the profession, and to send to the public and the profession a clear message about the standard of behavior required of a registered nurse," the panel explained.