Accident – Death – Obituary News :
A man who admitted pretending to be a nurse has been ordered not to impersonate any person of authority.
Lee Woods, 28, from Greenock, accessed several departments at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital between March and July 2023. He wore NHS branded clothing and was caught in possession of a charge nurse’s badge and an NHS lanyard.
Unauthorized Access to Hospital Departments
Woods pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to conducting himself in a disorderly manner. The court heard Woods entered various areas of the hospital including the children’s accident and emergency as well as the resuscitation department. He also accessed the minor injuries unit, maternity unit, and the main accident and emergency unit.
He chatted with staff and even asked to borrow hand gel. However, he was caught after a nurse practitioner noticed that Woods kept turning up despite not being a member of staff.
Legal Actions Taken
Sheriff Allan McKay put Woods on a structured deferred sentence for three months and ordered psychological reports. He also continued Woods’ bail and added extra conditions which include that he does not impersonate an authority figure, wear the uniform of any authority figure, or advise any member of the public that he is employed in a capacity as an authority figure.
Incidents Leading to Arrest
In early March 2023, a nurse practitioner at the Royal Hospital for Children noted a man in the nurse’s department wearing NHS uniform who walked past her and said hello. The practitioner later identified the man as Woods. Towards the end of March, the practitioner was made aware by other staff members that Woods had been in the hospital again and had to be challenged and asked to leave.
Discovery and Detainment
A senior charge nurse’s attention was drawn to Woods who was wearing a nurse’s uniform on 24 March. He had been in the resuscitation area the previous night but staff members did not recognize Woods and security was informed. On 18 July, the practitioner was with a colleague when Woods was seen walking towards the resuscitation corridor and was recognized due to the previous incident.
Confrontation and Resolution
Security and the police were contacted, and Woods was spotted in a children’s unit, explaining his presence to other members of staff. Miss Aitchison, the prosecutor, stated that Woods said he was there to borrow alcohol hand sanitizer and appeared agitated. Security detained him in the triage area, where he confirmed that he did not work at the hospital.
Legal Defense and Case Progression
During a police search, Woods was found to have a variety of items including an NHS polo shirt, NHS trousers, a charge nurse badge, and an NHS lanyard. Woods’ defense attorney, Cameron McCormack, stated that Woods was a volunteer at the hospital and had authority to enter that department. The case will call again at the end of May for further proceedings.
Overall, the incident highlights the importance of security measures in healthcare settings and the consequences of impersonating healthcare professionals.
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