Carlisle charge nurse stole morphine for back problem

The court heard Kennedy had not taken drugs since being caught

A nurse who forged hospital colleagues' signatures to steal morphine has been sentenced to community service.

Michael Henry Kennedy, 54, used the drug to self-medicate for a back problem, Carlisle magistrates heard.

He carried on working at Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary rather than take time off as his ward was busy and there were staff shortages.

Jeff Smith, mitigating, said Kennedy, of Low Hesket, acted "foolishly" because he was "not able to carry on".

Kennedy, a charge nurse in the coronary care unit, was reported to police in July last year by the clinical director of a pharmacy at the hospital, the court heard.

"The allegation being that Mr Kennedy was forging other colleagues' signatures in order to sign drugs out," prosecutor George Shelley said.

Kennedy had also falsely indicated that certain patients required morphine when they did not, he said.

'Everyone loses out'

When interviewed Kennedy admitted he had been stealing morphine for about six months.

He had suffered from a back problem for years and the low doses he took had increased and made him "feel good", the court heard.

Kennedy admitted one offence of theft and another of fraud, having falsified the names of doctors and staff as the drugs cabinet book had to be countersigned.

Mr Smith said Kennedy had worked for the NHS for 30 years.

He should have taken time off to recover from his back problem but prioritised the NHS and patients over his own medical condition, Mr Smith added.

"We all lose out as a consequence of what has happened, and no-one knows that more than Mr Kennedy," he said.

Magistrates imposed an 18-month community order and Kennedy, of Southwaite Road, must also complete 200 hours' unpaid work.