A Merseyside nurse who fraudulently claimed nearly £6,000 in sick pay from an NHS trust while simultaneously working for another trust has described her actions as a "harmless mistake." Lian Kenny, a registered nurse, collected sick pay from North West Care NHS Foundation Trust (later merged with Mersey Care) between August 2020 and October 2021, while also employed by Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust through an agency.
Details of the Fraud
An investigation by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) revealed that Kenny had been signed off on paid sick leave from Mersey Care but was working at Bridgewater during the same period. A colleague reported her in September 2021, prompting an anti-fraud probe by Mersey Internal Audit Agency (MIAA). The MIAA found that Kenny had received £5,993.51 in sick pay she was not entitled to. However, the agency did not recommend criminal proceedings, citing the relatively modest amount and the fact that it could be repaid.
NMC Hearing and Admission
At an NMC hearing conducted in her absence, Kenny fully admitted the charge of dishonesty for personal financial gain. Both parties agreed that her conduct fell far below the standards expected of a registered nurse. Kenny repaid the full amount to Mersey Care and submitted a reflective statement expressing remorse.
In her statement, Kenny said: "I deeply regret my lapse in judgement. It has been one of the most challenging periods of my professional life, but it has also been one of the most defining in terms of growth. I want to assure the NMC that I do not see myself as a nurse who made a harmless mistake. I see myself as a nurse who failed to show courage when it mattered and who has worked deliberately to ensure that failure is not repeated."
Outcome and Suspension
The panel noted that the likelihood of repetition was minimal, as Kenny is now employed exclusively as clinical lead for a vaccination service at Alamaz Limited. She was handed an immediate six-month suspension from nursing, with permission to return to practise on October 27.
