Stafford Hospital midwife struck off after abusive text
A midwife who told a colleague at Stafford Hospital to 'watch her back' after being accused of snatching her purse has been struck off.
Teresa Harris sent a scathing text message to Sally Freeman calling her a 'two-faced bitch' when they were working as midwives at the hospital.
The panel chairman for the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) told the London tribunal that she had shown no remorse for her actions and that there was 'evidence of a deep attitudinal problem'.
Ms Freeman's purse went missing from work and she believed her 'good friend' Mrs Harris had stolen it. Mrs Harris sent the threatening text on April 18 last year.
Ms Freeman told the hearing: "It was unnecessary, threatening, and abusive. She texted me: 'Two faced bitch just had your report though all the times I've been your house and you said I stole money from your purse yeh right!!... watch your back'."
Mrs Harris was under NMC investigation at the time after being caught with 32 Co-codamol tablets in her possession between August and October 2010.
The painkillers were prescription-only, yet Harris was giving them out to new mothers on the maternity ward who appeared to be 'a bit spaced', the tribunal heard.
"The strength of the Co-codamol tablets was 30 milligrams – a prescription-only use," said Krystle Fonyonga, for the NMC.
"When asked about it, she stated that they were 'work tablets' which she carried to give to patients."
NMC panel chairman Michael Cann said: "Mrs Harris has not demonstrated any insight into her misconduct, nor has she demonstrated any remorse.
"She has denied and continues to deny the more serious charges against her. There is evidence of a deep attitudinal problem."
Mrs Harris, who did not attend the central London hearing, denied inappropriately retaining prescription medication meant for patients and that her conduct was dishonest.
But she admitted sending Ms Freeman the abusive and threatening text message on April 18, 2012.
