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A nurse convicted of stealing prescription tablets and cigarettes from a Christchurch hospital has been struck off the nurses register.
Adrienne Jane Rich, who used to work at Nurse Maude Hospital, was convicted in Christchurch District Court last year on two theft charges after stealing cigarettes from a colleague and prescription codeine tablets set aside for patients.
The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal decision released yesterday said the theft of the tablets was particularly significant.
"The absence of these medications, which those patients were supposed to receive, could potentially have affected them to a serious extent," the tribunal said.
The offending reflected adversely on Rich's fitness to practise.
The tribunal also ruled that she pay 30 per cent of the cost of inquiries and of its hearing.
- NZPA
