Nurse, 32, is SACKED for taking two tablets from hospital pharmacy to treat her own headaches while she worked

A NURSE was sacked after snaffling two tablets to treat headaches she suffered whilst working an NHS shift.

Francesca Morgan, 32, illicitly nabbed a co-codamol and then a paracetamol pill after she felt unwell at work.

Cops were brought in after health officials noticed prescription medication vanished at Arrowe Park Hospital, near Liverpool.

Staff then installed a secret camera and caught headache-stricken Morgan pilfering the pills.

It emerged she took the drugs without the required permission in writing on the "assumption" that she was allowed to take the meds.

Morgan from Woolton, Liverpool, appeared at Wirral magistrates court where she pleaded guilty to two offences of theft by employee between June 6 and June 18 of last year.

Yvonne Dobson, prosecuting, said a tablet count, that staff were unaware of, was put in at the start and end of each day.

A camera was then installed and also found a number of staff had been not be following the correct procedure in the handling of medication.

Miss Dobson said that Morgan was caught swallowing tablets with a drink but she was not accused of stealing all the medication.

In mitigation defence solicitor Laura Flynn told the court Morgan now lived with her grandmother after losing her home as a result of the thefts.

The solicitor said that her client had been suffering headaches while on shift and believed that it was acceptable to take the medication as other nurses were doing so.

Magistrates handed Morgan a 12-month conditional discharge and made her pay £144 in costs and victim surcharge.

The hospital has declined to comment on Morgan’s dismissal or subsequent prosecution.