Fake nurse told not to pose as person of authority
- Published
Lee Woods admitted conducting himself in a disorderly manner
A man who admitted pretending to be a nurse has been ordered not to impersonate any person of authority.
Lee Woods, 28, from Greenock, accessed several departments at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital between March and July 2023.
He wore NHS branded clothing and was caught in possession of a charge nurse's badge and an NHS lanyard.
Woods pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to conducting himself in a disorderly manner.
The court heard Woods entered various areas of the hospital including the children's accident and emergency as well as the resuscitation department.
He also accessed the minor injuries unit, maternity unit as well as the main accident and emergency unit.
He chatted with staff and even asked to borrow hand gel.
However, he was caught after a nurse practitioner noticed that Woods kept turning up despite not being a member of staff.
Sheriff Allan McKay put Woods on a structured deferred sentence for three months and ordered psychological reports.
He also continued Woods' bail and added extra conditions which includes that he "does not impersonate an authority figure, does not wear uniform of any authority figure, nor advise any member of the public that he is employed in a capacity as an authority figure".
In early March 2023, a nurse practitioner was in the Royal Hospital for Children when she noted a man in the nurse's department wearing NHS uniform who walked past her and said hello.
The practitioner was unsure about who the man who was - but he was later identified as Woods.
Towards the end of March, the practitioner was made aware by other staff members that Woods had been in the hospital again.
Woods had been challenged and left.
A senior charge nurse's attention was then drawn to Woods who was wearing a nurse's uniform on 24 March.
Woods entered various departments at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
He had been in the resuscitation area the previous night but staff members did recognise Woods and security was informed.
On 18 July, the practitioner was with a colleague when Woods was seen walking towards the resuscitation corridor and was recognised due to the previous incident.
Prosecutor Lauren Aitchison said: "He appeared to be wearing an NHS nurse's outfit.
"The practitioner approached the senior charge nurse and identified to her that Woods was in the hospital again."
Security and the police were then contacted, and Woods was spotted in a children's unit, explaining his presence to other members of staff.
'Borrowing supplies'
Miss Aitchison stated: "He said he was there to borrow alcohol hand sanitiser and he appeared to be agitated."
Woods went to the resuscitation corridor and towards the triage area where security detained him.
He then confirmed that he did not work at the hospital.
During a police search, Woods was found to have a variety of items including a blue NHS polo shirt, navy NHS trousers, a charge nurse badge and an NHS lanyard.
Cameron McCormack, defending, told the court: "The position is that he was a volunteer at the hospital and had authority to enter that department."
The sheriff said he would fix a proof hearing to establish if this was the case, but said it would not explain why Woods had a uniform, lanyard of charge nurse badge.
The case will call again at the end of May.
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- Published20 November 2023
