A former paramedic who was struck off after lying about her sister being ill to get a day off work is now working on an NHS hospital ward. Natalie Twomey falsely claimed her sister was seriously unwell, but was caught when her sibling posted photos on Facebook while putting up Christmas decorations.
The Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service panel found she had told the ‘lie’ to mislead her employer, the London Ambulance Service, and banned her from paramedic work. It also heard she had attended work smelling of alcohol and dishonestly claimed payment for more hours than she worked.
Despite being struck off, Ms Twomey now works as a healthcare support worker with the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and is training to become a nurse. She recently posted a photo on social media posing with colleagues on a hospital ward in front of a Christmas tree.
The struck-off paramedic is not barred from nursing roles, as that sector is regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. A trust spokesperson said she was ‘employed by Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust as a health care support worker’ and that they require all staff to meet expected standards, with clear recruitment and safeguarding processes in place.
