A MENTAL health nurse has been struck off after stealing medicine meant for vulnerable patients at a Westcliff care home.

Collinah Mnyaka has been banned from working as a nurse after being found guilty of taking sedatives and antibiotics from Clifton Lodge, which cares for mentally ill over-65-yearolds.

Mnyaka was caught after colleagues at the care home, in Balmoral Road, starting counting medication after her shifts and checking patient records.

TheNursing and Midwifery Council found her guilty of misconduct and ordered her to be removed from their register after a two-day hearing in London.

In a report on the hearing, panel secretary Nicola Moreton said: “The panel considered that this was not an isolated incident but two separate incidents of dishonesty which amounted to an abuse of trust by Ms Mnyaka, who was the sole nurse on duty at the time of the incidents.

“The panel noted that Ms Mnyaka, by continuing to deny the charges despite the panel’s findings of fact, has demonstrated a continuing lack of insight into her misconduct.”

A staff nurse at the ward, which is operated by NHS community and mental health care provider Sept, noticed a large amount of the drug lorazepam, which is used to treat anxiety, appeared to be being used.

The nurse and a colleague counted the number of tablets before and after a shift when Mnyaka was the only nurse on duty and found 13 and a half had disappeared despite none being administered to patients.

The following night, again when Mnyaka was the only nurse on duty, at least 11 and a half tablets went missing.

On another occasion 16 zopiclone tablets, which are used in the treatment of treat insomnia, went missing.

When police searched Mnyaka’s home they found 15 zopiclone tablets and antibiotic eye drops, for which Mnyaka had no permission.

Mnyaka, who was fired after an internal investigation, denied the charges, questioning her colleague’s account of events and claiming an acquaintance could have left the eye drops at her home.

But the panel established that she had removed the medicine without permission and had the eye drops without permission.

Andy Brogan, executive director of clinical governance and quality at Sept, said: “Collinah Mnyaka was previously employed by Sept.

“Following the disclosure of the allegations a full internal investigation was conducted by the trust.

“Based on the findings of the investigation, Ms Mnyaka was summarily dismissed for gross misconduct and reported to the NMC.

“The trust’s internal procedures ensured that patient safety was at no point compromised.”