London(ZimEye)A UK nurse has been allowed to continue working despite having purchased and used a fake passport, a crime she was convicted of in 2009.
The nurse, Bridget Khumalo, will as of May continue practicing as a nurse with full rights since she demonstrated remorse for her actions, and maintainted a good record at work.
Ms Khumalo, a qualified nurse who has been in the United Kingdom for 15 years struggled to survive in the country after a lawyer she had hired was struck off by national regulators after which time her original Home Office application became jeopardised. She then struggled to obtain work and as a result ended up buying a fake passport to use for the purpose of working, before being investigated at work and convicted for the crime barely a year later.
She did not deny knowing that she had bought a fake passport and submitted that she only chose to utilise it in order to support her children in the UK including her dying mother and a school going teenage brother in Zimbabwe.
However, after accpeting her conviction, Bridget Khumalo did not repeat the crime and later obtained indefinitie leave to remain status. She was on Tuesday 1st May taken before the local nursing regulatory panel for charges of misconduct relating to the fake passport matter.
But “throughout the hearing Ms Khumalo … expressed genuine regret and has apologised for her actions,” the panel ruled in its determination.”
The determination which only gave Ms Khumalo a caution order, read in part:
“The panel is satisfied that there has been no repetition of the misconduct. The panel has seen a reference and a testimonial to the effect that Ms Khumalo is a respected and dedicated nurse.
“The panel has in mind the case of Parkinson v Nursing and Midwifery Council [2010].
“In that case Mr Justice Mitting indicated that for a nurse to avoid a striking off in a dishonesty case, she must come before a panel and express remorse and realisation that the conduct criticised was dishonest and give an undertaking that there will be no repetition in order to convince the panel into giving a more lenient sanction. The panel finds that Ms Khumalo has demonstrated these features before it. The panel additionally finds that Ms Khumalo demonstrates most of the factors indicated in the Indicative Sanctions Guidance for a caution order. The panel finds that there are strong significant mitigating features in this case.
“Ms Khumalo has been a registered nurse since 2006. There have been no previous concerns noted against her by an employer or any other NMC panel.
“In light of this, the panel has determined that it is more advantageous and in the public interest that Ms Khumalo a skilled and valued practitioner, should remain in practice.
“The panel is satisfied that Ms Khumalo has demonstrated insight into her failings which has been expressed in her evidence before it. “In particular, the panel considered that Ms Khumalo has reflected upon her actions and has learnt an appropriate lesson and that the conduct that led to the conviction would not be repeated by her in the future. (ZIMBABWE, ZimEye)