Hospital security up after fake doctor injects man

The substance was administered at Ealing Hospital in April

A hospital trust says it has enhanced security measures after a woman who was "living out her dream of being a doctor" injected a patient in police custody with a mystery substance.

Wearing a white coat, stethoscope, medical gloves and a yellow badge, Kreuena Zdrafkova, 20, administered the unknown liquid at Ealing Hospital on 19 April.

The man she injected was being held in hospital after admitting to either taking, or withdrawing from, drugs and needed medical assistance, Isleworth Crown Court heard.

Zdrafkova, who has no medical training, pleaded guilty to common assault in June, through a Turkish interpreter. London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust said it took "immediate action".

'Highly unusual'

The defendant, who moved to the UK from Bulgaria and has twin boys aged six, was sentenced to a one-year community order, which bans her from entering any NHS facility without an appointment.

Judge Fiona Barrie said: "It seems that you harboured some dream of becoming a doctor but frankly that cannot amount to mitigation."

At about 14:30 BST, Zdrafkova entered the room with a couple of tubes, which she said were for taking blood samples, and administered what she said was a small liquid medication that would calm the patient down, the court heard.

Zdrafkova, of Ealing, west London, also took photographs of the man's neck and hand. She had been seen earlier by a member of staff in the blood room examining butterfly needles.

CCTV footage also showed her entering an ambulance and speaking to a paramedic.

On another visit to the hospital three days later, Zdrafkova was arrested by police while in possession of hospital papers after being alerted by hospital staff.

Zdrafkova pleaded guilty in June at Isleworth Crown Court to assault

Defending, Harry Stallard said she had been acting "in quite a compassionate and caring way".

He said: "At one point she's got a tissue, as well, and seems to wipe something from his face so certainly there's no evidence of mal-intent or malice towards [him].

"It really is almost living out her dream of being a doctor."

He added it was "maybe of some concern" that Ms Zdrafkova was able without showing any identification to access a patient so readily.

A spokesperson for London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust said: "We fully supported the police investigation into this highly unusual incident, taking immediate action to support the apprehension of the individual and enhance our security measures."