HOSPITAL MEDIC STRUCK OF AFTER CANNABIS USE

A medic at the Royal Devon amp; Exeter Hospital who tested
positive for cannabis after failing to turn up for work has been struck off.

Jennie Andrews, a biomedical hospital scientist, also tried to
persuade a colleague to provide a urine test sample for her, a
disciplinary hearing in London heard.

John Williams, chairman of a Health Professions Council panel, ordered
the striking off of Andrews, who worked in microbiology.

In findings just published, he said: "The behaviour was deliberate
abuse of alcohol and the use of cannabis, a lack of honesty and
integrity and a lack of insight into the effect of her behaviour."

The hearing had been told that Andrews was employed by the Royal Devon
and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust from December, 2004, until her
dismissal on February 28, last year.

During that time, she didn't turn up for work on several occasions due
to drug and alcohol-related issues. She was said to have failed to
attend work on May 26, 2006, without contacting her employer to
explain her absence, and on September 25, 2006, she had undergone
tests for drugs and alcohol which had proved positive for cannabis.

During a meeting with a doctor on October 11, 2006, to discuss the
test results, the panel's findings say Andrews had admitted using
cannabis regularly and had later conceded that some of her previous
absences from work were the result of the effects of too much alcohol.

She again didn't turn up for work on November 23, 2006, due to
"alcohol-related issues" and the following month tested positive again
for cannabis.

The hearing had been told that on January 15, 2007 - when she was
required to provide a further urine sample - she had requested the
help of a colleague in providing the sample on her behalf.

Describing her attendance at work as "patchy" at the relevant time
with a "lack of communication", Mr Williams said it demonstrated "she
was taking substances which had the potential to affect her cognitive
function".

Without evidence of any change in Ms Andrews' situation since the
relevant events, Mr Williams said the panel had decided to erase the
medic's name from the register of medical practitioners.

An RD &E spokeswoman: "In common with all NHS organisations, the RD &E
has robust human resources policies and procedures in place.

"We consider that we took the appropriate action to first monitor and
then dismiss this employee, when it became apparent that there was a
serious issue which could not be resolved."