A CUMBERLAND Infirmary midwife who was plagued by back pain has admitted stealing codeine tablets over a three-month period.

The theft, discovered after bosses at the Carlisle hospital noticed pain-killer tablets were regularly disappearing, means that 52-year-old Denise Keegan’s 23-year career now hangs in the balances, magistrates heard.

The defendant admitted stealing from her employer, the NHS trust that runs the hospital, between January 1 and April 4.

Prosecutor George Shelley said that an internal investigation was launched after managers at the hospital noticed that an average of 22 boxes of codeine per week were disappearing from a medicine store.

This was located between the hospital’s women’s outpatients department and the pregnancy termination ward. By a process of elimination, said Mr Shelley, investigators narrowed the suspects down to just two people.

Keegan was one of them.

“On April 4 this year,” said Mr Shelley, “the defendant was arrested at her place of work on suspicion of theft by employee.” Three boxes of the missing pills were found in Keegan’s handbag.

None of the pills had been prescribed to the defendant; and all bore the hospital’s postcode, written on the boxes in “invisible ink” as a security precaution. Mr Shelley said a second hospital employee who is suspected of stealing painkiller tablets has yet to appear before the court.

Keegan has now been suspended from her job as a midwife and is awaiting the outcome of a disciplinary process.

Kate Hunter, defending, told magistrates; “This is not only serious for her personally, but it is serious also for her career.”

A mother of three, Keegan had been a midwife for 23 years.

Her profession’s regulatory body, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, had placed her under a restriction, which meant she could work under supervision, but Keegan was currently suspended by her employer.

Miss Hunter went on to quote from several character references, all of which spoke highly of Keegan. The words used to describe her included “caring, meticulous, trustworthy, and respected.”

The lawyer said: “When she moved from Wigan to Cumbria, her doctor suddenly terminated her codeine prescription for back pain – pain that was possibly caused due to her work over many years.

“With that drug being cut off, she made an error of judgement.”

Miss Hunter continued: “The character references range from people who has worked with Keegan more recently to long-term collagues. There were no concerns expressed about her character, or her ability as a midwife.

“She is experienced, caring, and well-respected by other professionals. She is described as calm and effective, and providing high quality care; a good and honest person. She is friendly, approachable, hard working.”

Miss Hunter said Keegan was now managing her back pain by alternative means and would love to resume her career. The lawyer added: “This is an incredibly emotive time for her, with 23-years in the balance and the possibility of losing her profession.

“She is genuinely remorseful.”

A probation officer who spoke to Keegan, from Winton, Kirkby Stephen, said that she had been distressed throughout the interview and shown genuine remorse and embarrassment.

The defendant had expressed concern about the impact on her family and her employer. “It has been a salutary lesson,” said the officer.

She pointed out that Keegan was left disappointed after her pain medication was terminated during the pandemic following a telephone conversation with her doctor rather than a face-to-face consultation.

Depression had contributed to her poor decision making. The officer added that there was no evidence that Keegan sold the medication.

After hearing what they said had been “strong personal mitigation,” magistrates said they would step outside sentencing guidelines for the offence. They imposed a six-month conditional discharge.

This means that provided the defendant commits no further offences, she will not be punished for the theft. The presiding magistrate told Keegan: “You are a person of good character, with no previous convictions.

“You have expressed remorse and addressed your use of Codeine. Keegan, however, must pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Keegan also admitted a second charge, of illegally possessing the codeine that she had with her when arrested. There was no separate penalty for this. 

* An earlier version of this report included a final paragraph that referred incorrectly to the defendant possessing "diazepam". She in fact admitted possessing only codeine and no other drug. We apologise for the error and any embarassment caused.