Police hunt imposter nurse

Police are hunting a woman posing as a registered nurse who has doing the rounds of hospital wards in Christchurch and driving around in health board cars.

The Press reported today that the woman managed to fake a permission form to get Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) photo ID, identifying her as both a registered nurse and a Maori health worker.

The newspaper said it understood she spent time on wards at Princess Margaret and Christchurch hospitals, and possibly Hillmorton Hospital, and on occasion took board cars out for drives before eventually taking a late-model Hyundai Tucson four-wheel-drive and not returning.

The board refused to comment on the case yesterday. Spokeswoman Michele Hider said it did not want to compromise a police investigation into the matter.

She said the board was unable to comment on what proof of professional medical registration was required before ID was issued, and whether drivers' licences were checked before health board vehicles were dispatched.

Ms Hider declined to confirm whether the board had tightened security around accessing staff ID after the incident.

Detective Senior Sergeant David Harvey, of the Christchurch police, said police were still looking for the woman.

"We haven't got any idea where she's gone," Mr Harvey said.

There were other matters they would like to speak to her about, he said, but would not specify what they were.

Nursing Council chief executive Marion Clark said she was very concerned, as impersonating a nurse was "highly dangerous".

However, it was not known whether the woman had provided any patient care.

Ms Clark said even if she had not, she had been in breach of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act.

Police would like members of the public who may have seen the silver Hyundai Tucson 4WD, to call police.

- NZPA