A midwife who admitted to stealing morphine from the hospital she worked in has walked free from court.
Laura MacNeil, 24, was handed a one-year jail sentence suspended for two years at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Thursday. She must also complete 200 hours unpaid work.
She previously admitted to stealing 27 doses of morphine from Queens Hospital, Romford, which she then administered to herself.
MacNeil, of Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, made a series of false patient entries in a controlled drug register last June in order to obtain the class A drug.
She also admitted to the possession of Co-Codamol, a class B drug, and Diazepam, a class C drug.
PC Wendy McAllister, who led the investigation, said: "MacNeil abused her position of trust as a midwife to steal morphine for her own use.
"Although no patients went without their prescriptions, MacNeil set up false entries on the controlled drug register using the names of people on the ward she was treating.
"This case demonstrates how the Controlled Drug Liaison Unit will prosecute any medical professional guilty of stealing from their employer."
The case has been referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) who will conduct their own investigation and decide on sanctions regarding MacNeil's registration and fitness to practice as a nurse.
