A NURSE who stole money from her dead partner’s bank account two years ago will be allowed to return to the wards.

Fiona McKenzie from Galashiels was suspended by the Nursing and Midwifery Council in July 2013 after she was convicted at Selkirk Sheriff Court the previous September.

The 45-year-old’s suspension was extended for a further 12 months last August after the panel weren’t convinced she had taken adequate steps to return to the profession.

But last week’s hearing in Edinburgh concluded that Mrs McKenzie will be allowed to practice once more as a nurse when her suspension expires on September 26.

A spokesman stated: “The panel noted that Mrs Mckenzie’s offence was serious and involved dishonesty.

“The panel considered that throughout the Nursing and Midwifery Council process, Mrs McKenzie had demonstrated a degree of insight and remorse.

“It noted that the charges did not raise any concerns with regard to Mrs McKenzie’s clinical practice as a registered nurse, and that no patient harm resulted from her actions.” Mrs McKenzie qualified as a nurse in February, 2009.

Following the death of her partner two months later she withdrew money from his bank account, despite not being the executor of his will.

The recently qualified nurse took a total of £2,400 from cashline machines over a two-week period.

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told that Mrs Mckenzie had been given the card by her partner to buy furniture for their home while he was being treated in Borders General Hospital.

And the offences only came to light during the administration of the man’s estate.

At the time, Tessa Bradley, prosecuting, told Selkirk Sheriff Court: “This matter was reported by the solicitor wrapping up his estate.” Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said reality hit home after the burial and she was “extremely remorseful” for stealing the four figure sum.

But he added no-one had ever come asking for the money.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond admonished the mother-of-three.

Mrs McKenzie was employed with the nurse bank at Borders General Hospital from October, 2011 to June, 2012.

But the Nursing and Midwifery Council noted that Mrs McKenzie had been unemployed at the time of the offences in April, 2009.

And they concluded that she was now fit to return to nursing.

The spokesman concluded: “Mrs McKenzie has now been suspended from practising as a registered nurse for a continuous period of two years.

“The panel considered that the public interest has been appropriately addressed.

“It did not consider that a further period of suspension was appropriate or proportionate, having regard to the particular circumstances of this case.”