Lucy Chapman, instructed by the Royal College of Nursing, defended a nurse who dishonestly obtained financial benefit from an NHS trust totalling £6000, by using a patient only taxi account for 134 journeys during the pandemic. The nurse denied knowing the taxi was for patients originally but agreed that she did become aware and continued to use it, citing financial pressures. However, evidence was adduced that the journeys included numerous personal trips to restaurants, pubs and spas as well as from work to home.
Lucy’s comprehensive mitigation convinced the panel that a caution order would be the appropriate sanction, instead of removal from the register, which the regulator sought. Lucy was able to draw on her family law practice to sensitively and effectively highlight to the panel the relevance and impact of domestic and financial abuse in mitigation of her client.
Lucy’s full profile: Lucy Chapman – Great James Street Chambers
To instruct Lucy, please contact the clerking team at clerks@greatjames.co.uk or on 0207 440 4949.