A NURSE was due to appear at a fitness to practice hearing yesterday (Thu) after allegedly taking nearly 3,000 tramadol tablets from a hospital in Fife.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) will be hearing the case against her for two days on January 29 and 30.
The nurse, Emma MacDonald Freeborn, apparently took up to 3,000 of the powerful opiates while working as a nurse for the NHS in Fife.
The charges against her state: “Whilst working as a registered nurse at NHS Fife between 2006 and 2013: [You] took up to 2760 tramadol tablets without authorisation from NHS Fife. Your conduct at charge one was dishonest in that you knew you were not entitled to take the tablets. And, in light of the above your fitness to practise is impaired by reason of your misconduct.”
Tramadol is an opiate and a strong painkiller. It is used to help relieve moderate to severe pain. It works by affecting chemicals in the brain and nervous system which are involved in the sensation of pain.