A manager at the NHS was found guilty of stealing over £8,000 from doctors who were caring for seriously ill children to support her gambling addiction. Jacqueline Robertson, a trusted employee at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh, Scotland, embezzled the funds over an 11-month period.
During the court proceedings at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, it was revealed that the 59-year-old cleaning manager had been spending up to £100 daily on gambling, leading to her actions. Robertson admitted to embezzling the money while working at the hospital from January 1 to November 12, 2018.
According to public prosecutor Peter Finnon, Robertson, who worked as a domestic supervisor at the hospital, was responsible for collecting payments from doctors staying overnight and ensuring their safekeeping. The fraudulent activities were eventually uncovered, and Robertson confessed to the police about her actions.
Her defense attorney, James McMacken, mentioned that Robertson had been with the NHS for seven years, initially as a cleaner before being promoted. He expressed her deep remorse for the situation, attributing her actions to a sudden gambling addiction that spiraled out of control.
Following these revelations, the court deferred the sentencing to the next month. The seriousness of the charges prompted the judge to request a criminal justice social work report and a restriction of liberty order assessment for Robertson.
