By LIZ HULL
Published: | Updated:
A carer is being investigated by police for allegedly stealing morphine intended for elderly patients at a care home.
Patsy Swift, 37, was arrested on suspicion of theft in February. She was immediately removed from working at Hillbury Care Home, in Wrexham, north Wales.
A source told the Mail that the home, local council and health board were first alerted to suspicions the liquid medication was going missing last summer.
They claimed police were called in in September but it was another five months before Swift was arrested and her home searched.
The source said: 'A GP's receptionist actually noticed an increase in the number of claims for extra medication and lost prescriptions from this care home, and that the practice was also getting repeat reports that the local pharmacy was failing to deliver morphine to them.
'When it was queried with management the records and stocks at the home were checked and did not match.'
The home, which has around 60 beds, looks after elderly patients with dementia.
'The families of the patients have been informed and some are very upset,' the insider added.
Ms Swift denied any wrongdoing when the Mail approached her for comment
Hillbury Care home, in Wrexham, where a carer is accused of stealing patient's morphine
'The worry is that some patients who needed morphine potentially didn't get it and were left in pain as a consequence.'
Ms Swift, who is believed to have worked for the care home's parent company, Pendine Park Group for around seven years, and held a senior role at the home, confirmed to the Mail that she had been arrested in connection with the theft and was on bail.
She denied any wrongdoing.
Speaking from her home in Pen-y-cae, near Wrexham, the mother-of-two said: 'I can't comment at the moment. I have taken legal advice.
'I know I've done nothing wrong and would be happy to comment once the bail has finished, I just don't know what's happening with the police at the moment.'
It is understood Ms Swift is no longer employed.
A spokesman for North Wales police said: 'The force is currently investigating an incident of alleged theft by an employee of a care home in the Wrexham area.
'A 37-year-old woman was arrested and has been bailed pending further enquiries.'
Patsy Swift, 37, (pictured) was arrested on suspicion of theft in February
A spokesman for Wrexham Borough Council said: 'Hillbury is a privately run care home in Wrexham. We were made aware of the incident by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Medication Management Team and followed set protocols in response to the incident.'
Mario Kreft, director of Pendine Park Group, declined to comment.
In May 2022, Ms Swift and six colleagues from Hillbury Care Home, which is due to celebrate its 60th anniversary next month (May), took part in a charity walk to raise money for a local hospice.
The group, who appeared in the local Wrexham Leader newspaper, raised almost £1,300 by completing the annual 10-mile Midnight Walk in aid of Nightingale House Hospice.
Wales
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