Birmingham nurse given 150 hours unpaid work for fiddling timesheets

Nov 27 2009 by CRouter CRouter, Birmingham Mail

A BIRMINGHAM nurse who dishonestly received over £1,000 by fiddling her timesheets was ordered to do 150 hours’ unpaid work.

Judge Melbourne Inman QC told Natalie Baxter it was a serious case because it meant that less money was available to other hard-working nurses.

Baxter, 25, of Isis Grove, Castle Bromwich, had previously admitted 11 charges of fraud.

Daniel White, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court, said Baxter had worked as a healthcare assistant for Heart of England NHS Trust since January 2003.

In 2007, concerns were raised by a senior sister about the amount of shifts Baxter was working compared with the money she was being paid. As a result an investigation was carried out which included monitoring the defendant’s use of a swipe card.

Baxter, who had initially denied any dishonesty, obtained £1,247 by doing this between May 2007 and May 2008.

Cathlyn Orchard, defending, said it was not a sophisticated offence and it was inevitable that Baxter would be caught.

She had worked since leaving school at 16, was not well paid and was having financial problems, added Ms Orchard.