A NURSE who conned prescription drugs from chemists for her own use has been allowed to keep her job.

On one occasion Amanda Ashcroft collected 112 codeine phosphate tablets, arousing the suspicion of the pharmacist who reported her.

A disciplinary hearing held by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in London was told Ashcroft fraudulently obtained prescriptions on 10 occasions during 18 months while working for Cumbria Health on Call (CHoC).

The fraud came to light after she presented a CHoC prescription for 112 codeine phosphate 30mg tablets in the name of John Little at Urwins Chemists, Seaton, on April 22 last year.

The pharmacist reported the issue because of the number of tablets prescribed.

When CHoC checked the prescription they found it did not match any patient records.

When Ashcroft tried to pick up a further 112 tablets from a chemist in Maryport on August 5, the pharmacist called CHoC to check it was genuine.

The chemist then questioned Ashcroft who left without obtaining the medication, and admitted to her employers what she had done.

In a police interview, Ashcroft admitted fraudulently obtaining prescriptions approximately 10 times for personal use, between April 2014 and May 2015.

She was cautioned for fraud by abuse of position on October 16.

Panel chairman Linda Stone said: “You have accepted your dishonest actions put patients at unwarranted risk although, thankfully, no actual harm did occur.

“However, we acknowledged there has been no suggestionyou have ever acted dishonestly other than by fraudulently self-prescribing codeine phosphate 30mg.

“Due to the significant, and continuing, steps you have taken to address your issues, we were satisfied that you do have considerable insight into your behaviour.”

The panel issued Ashcroft with a conditions-of-practice order for 24 months, during which she must not prescribe medication, and must not administer it unless supervised.

She must also notify the NMC of any appointment she accepts or of any investigation started against her and must notify any employer that she is subject to a conditions-of-practice order. Ashcroft has 28 days to appeal.