York Hospital: Library book thief barred from medical profession

The stolen books were worth at least £800

An operating department practitioner has been barred from the profession after she stole books from a hospital library.

Julie Ainley, then 41 and from York, pleaded guilty to the theft from York Hospital, where she worked, in 2022.

A Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service (HCPTS) panel heard her conviction meant her fitness to practise was impaired.

The panel ruled she was "not fit to be a member of the profession".

Ms Ainley did not engage with the panel and the hearing was held in her absence.

It was told she had been employed by the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust from 7 February 2022.

A witness, who was not named, told the hearing she had been informed in February 2022 some security tags had been ripped out of books and books were also missing.

A member of the public later contacted the trust and said they had bought a book online which had the trust's identification stamp on it.

Police were notified and alerted the online seller.

The stolen books were worth about £800, but the trust had to pay £2,500 to replace them.

Julie Ainley was employed at York Hospital from February 2022

Ms Ainley was arrested on 6 July 2022 and appeared at York Magistrates Court on 14 July 2022 where she pleaded guilty to theft.

She was given a 12-month community order with 50 hours of unpaid work and required to pay a £95 surcharge to fund victim services.

A witness on behalf of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) said it requires anyone registered with the council to notify them as soon as possible of any criminal conviction.

He said they did not receive any notification.

The panel found her fitness to practise was impaired by reason of conviction and misconduct.

In considering a sanction, the panel said: "She has provided the panel with no evidence of remorse, insight, reflection or remediation, nor has she engaged in these proceedings."

In concluding she should be given a striking off order, the panel said "the nature and seriousness of [her] conviction and misconduct is such that she is not fit to be a member of the profession".

Ms Ainley has 28 days from being notified of the decision to appeal.