A nurse has been deregistered for falsely claiming nearly £20,000 for shifts she did not actually work. Faith Chareka, employed in the emergency department at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust in Surrey, was found guilty of abusing her position by adding 50 shifts to the system between November 1, 2020, and February 1, 2023, as reported by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) fitness to practise committee.
The shifts included both basic and enhanced rates, with the majority falling under the enhanced rate for night shifts, bank holidays, and weekends. This fraudulent activity resulted in Chareka receiving £19,575.41 and 540 hours of time off in lieu (TOIL) that she did not earn.
Following her guilty plea in 2024, Chareka was sentenced to an 18-month suspended sentence, along with a rehabilitation activity requirement for 15 days and 200 hours of unpaid work. She was dismissed by the trust in 2023 after an internal investigation.
During sentencing, the judge highlighted that Chareka engaged in deliberate dishonesty over a two-year period. The court also noted that her actions had negative repercussions on the financially strained NHS.
Representatives at the NMC expressed concerns about the impact of Chareka’s actions on patient care and the healthcare workforce. They emphasized that her behavior diverted funds from the NHS, exacerbating existing financial challenges, especially during the Covid pandemic.
Despite Chareka showing remorse and insight into her misconduct, the NMC panel deemed that the only appropriate course of action to uphold public confidence in the profession was to strike her off the nursing register. An interim suspension order was also imposed for 18 months pending any potential appeals.
It was argued that the purpose of the sanction was not punitive, as Chareka had already faced criminal consequences. Ultimately, the panel decided to remove her from the nursing profession, pending the end of the appeal period.