DESPERATE TO make ends meet after her marriage broke up, an NHS 24 nurse pretended she was ill but worked as an agency nurse in Fife hospitals, fraudulently obtaining almost £3000 in occupational and statutory sick pay.

And Katherine Clark’s deception only came to light when a colleague was admitted to Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline and recognised her, Sheriff Graeme Warner was told at Kirkcaldy yesterday.

Clark (35), of Strathkinnes Road, Kirkcaldy, had previously admitted that between October 31 and December 21 last year, she induced her then employers, NHS 24, to pay her occupational and statutory sick pay and pretended to them she was unfit due to ill health to carry out her duties as a nursing adviser, although she was able to carry out those duties because she worked as a bank nurse at Queen Margaret and Victoria Hospitals, and obtained £2984.73 by fraud.

The case had been continued for reports.

Depute fiscal Siobhan Monks said during the relevant period, Clark, whose job entailed sitting at a desk and answering calls and was not physical work in any way, had indicated she was unfit to work because of back problems.

At one stage she obtained a medical certificate from her doctor indicating the problem was due to sciatica

But during this time she worked shifts as a bank (agency) nurse at local hospitals and Ms Monks said bank nurses could be required to cover a whole range of duties, some physical.

“The offence came to light because a colleague was admitted to Queen Margaret Hospital and recognised her,” said the depute fiscal, adding NHS 24 fraud services had then investigated.

“She was interviewed and indicated that she had suffered from sciatica but confirmed she had been working some shifts as a bank nurse.

“She said she deeply regretted doing it and accepted it was a serious matter. She indicated she was in serious financial difficulties and was stressed after her 15-year marriage broke down.”

Appearing for Clark, solicitor Chris Dickson said the accused, a first offender, had qualified as a nurse in 1999 and worked at Victoria and Queen Margaret Hospitals before joining NHS 24 as a nurse adviser in 2006.

Mr Dickson added, “at the time she committed the offence, she was in serious financial difficulty and was suffering from stress.

“She had found out her husband was having an affair and he moved out, leaving her to look after two young children.

“He initially refused to pay any maintenance or aliment and she had to pay all the household bills.”

When the offence came to light, Clark, who is now working at a Kirkcaldy care home and faces being removed from the nursing register (a decision will not be made for some time) immediately accepted her guilt, said Mr Dickson.

He told the court the accused had already paid back £700 of the money and was paying off the rest at £100 a month.

“Before this offence, she had an unblemished nursing record,” said Mr Dickson.

“She was a nurse for eight years and was competent and caring.”

Mr Dickson urged Sheriff Warner to defer sentence to allow Clark time to repay all the money and to demonstrate her good behaviour.

However, the sheriff told her it was a serious offence and sentenced her to 135 hours’ community service.

The investigation into Ms Clark was carried out by Counter Fraud Services (CFS) working in close co-operation with NHS 24 and NHS Fife.

They established she had worked a total of 15 shifts at Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline and Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy.

CFS communications manager Maggie Worsfold said, “This sentence demonstrates that fraud against the NHS will not be tolerated.

“CFS has a strong role to play in deterring fraudulent activity, and this case should send a message to the very small minority of NHS staff who may attempt to defraud the NHS that it is never worthwhile.

“CFS is dedicated to eradicating all fraud against the NHS.

“Working in close partnership with other NHS organisations they have successfully delivered savings in excess of £14 million since their inception in 2000.

“Counter Fraud Services in Scotland will continue to work with the honest majority of NHS staff and to promote the message that frauds against the NHS are unacceptable and will lead to prosecution.”