A nurse has been deregistered for falsely claiming nearly £20,000 for shifts she did not actually work. Faith Chareka, employed at the emergency department of Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust in Surrey, was found guilty of committing fraud by misusing her position. She manipulated the system by adding 50 shifts between November 1, 2020, and February 1, 2023, as detailed in a report from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) fitness to practise committee.
These shifts were recorded at regular pay rates, but most were logged at a higher rate applicable to night shifts, holidays, and weekends. This fraudulent activity resulted in a sum of £19,575.41 and 540 hours of unpaid time off in lieu (TOIL) that she did not deserve, the report confirmed.
During her sentencing, the judge remarked that Chareka had engaged in calculated dishonesty over a two-year period. She admitted her guilt in 2024 and received an 18-month suspended sentence, along with 15 days of rehabilitation activity and 200 hours of unpaid work. The trust terminated her employment in 2023 following an inquiry.
The misconduct was condemned for its impact on the financially strained NHS, according to Rosie Welsh, the NMC case presenter. Chareka’s actions jeopardized patient safety by potentially causing understaffing and service disruptions in the emergency department.
Despite expressing remorse and demonstrating insight into her misconduct, Chareka was found to have repeatedly manipulated the shift allocation system for personal gain, causing financial strain on the trust during a critical period. Consequently, the panel decided to remove her from the nursing register to uphold public trust and acknowledge the severity of her actions.
To ensure compliance and accountability, an interim suspension order was imposed for 18 months pending the end of the appeal period for the striking-off order.
