Latest news with #Fife
Times
3 hours ago
- Health
- Times
Midwife took laughing gas while working on high-risk ward
A Scottish NHS midwife has been suspended after she was caught taking laughing gas while caring for vulnerable pregnant women. Mariedh King was discovered consuming nitrous oxide — also known as 'hippy crack' — in an empty labour room whilst working on a ward for high-risk patients, a disciplinary hearing was told. She admitted to an internal investigation that she had done so multiple times over a two-month period. The midwife claimed that the drug's effects were always out of her system by the time she saw patients but could have caused a problem if there was an emergency. Laughing gas is the colloquial term for nitrous oxide which causes euphoria, uncontrolled laughter, and dizziness. In medical settings it is used for sedation and pain relief. A fitness to practise committee has found that King had put patients at risk by 'knowingly and intentionally' taking the drug. It said the only 'appropriate and proportionate' sanction was a nine-month suspension from the Nursing and Midwifery Council register. The professional tribunal heard that the midwife, who was based in Fife, qualified in 2000 and was working on a ward for high-risk pregnancy patients. In September 2021, King was found by the senior charge midwife in an empty labour room inhaling laughing gas that was intended for patients. After being discovered King went home. The incident was the only time she was found using the drug, but during the course of an internal investigation she admitted to doing it more than once. King told the tribunal the effects of laughing gas are 'very short-lasting' and were always out of her system by the time she attended patients. However, she accepted this could have been different if she had been called to an emergency whilst under the influence. During the hearing it was suggested that the midwife, who had an unblemished career, was experiencing personal struggles at the time of her misconduct but the details have been withheld. A panel found that King had 'knowingly and intentionally' stolen the nitrous oxide from her employer and put vulnerable patients at risk, which amounted to misconduct as well as impairing her fitness to practise. It said: 'The panel determined that Mrs King knowingly and intentionally stole, and used, nitrous oxide at her place of work. 'Mrs King knew that it was wrong to take the nitrous oxide which was for the use of patients only … was responsible for vulnerable patients under her care and the panel was of the view that Mrs King's actions jeopardised patient safety and put patients at a risk of harm. 'This was a serious departure from the standards expected of a registered midwife and amounted to misconduct.' The panel ruled that a striking-off order would be 'unduly punitive' but her drug-taking did warrant further action. King was suspended for nine months with a review hearing required before she can be admitted back onto the register, to ensure she has developed enough insight into her misconduct to practise safely again. 'Mrs King's misconduct arose more than once, albeit it was a single episode, in an otherwise unblemished career,' the panel said. 'It has found attitudinal issues related to Mrs King's dishonesty but it did not deem these to be deep-seated or personality related. There is no evidence of Mrs King repeating her misconduct. 'Whilst the panel acknowledges that a suspension may have a punitive effect, it would be unduly punitive in Mrs King's case to impose a striking off order. 'Balancing all of these factors the panel has concluded that a suspension order is theappropriate and proportionate sanction.'
The Independent
7 hours ago
- The Independent
Cannabis plants worth £7m seized by police in raid at former college campus
Police have seized cannabis plants worth an estimated £7 million after carrying out a raid at a derelict former college, the highest value cultivation of the drug ever found. Nairn Campus in Kirkcaldy, Fife, was once part of a 7.65-acre site owned by Fife College, however it closed in 2016 and was sub-divided. The derelict building on High Street was found to be a cannabis farm, with 5,000 plants, during a search by officers with a warrant at around 12.40pm on Wednesday. Police Scotland said inquiries are ongoing. Officers said the previous highest value cannabis cultivation was one worth up to £6.3 million which was found in a property on Kirkcaldy's High Street in May 2022, with a man later appearing in court in connection with the find. Sergeant Johny Lister said: 'This is a very significant recovery and is an example of our efforts to disrupt the activity of illegal drugs in Scotland. 'Drugs cause misery in our communities. 'This recovery also underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country's Serious Organised Crime Strategy. 'The public has an important role to play in helping Police Scotland target those responsible for the cultivation, supply and sale of illegal substances. 'Anyone with any information or concerns about drugs in their community can call Police Scotland on 101, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.'
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
SNP leaders ‘snubbed' nurse at centre of NHS trans row
SNP leaders have been accused of declining to meet a nurse at the centre of a tribunal about a trans doctor being allowed to use a female changing room. Sandie Peggie held talks with several MSPs ahead of her employment tribunal against NHS Fife, which resumes in Dundee next month. The nurse launched legal action after she was suspended for raising concerns over the use of a female changing room by Beth Upton, a trans doctor. Ms Peggie met with senior Tories including Russell Findlay, the party leader, and Alexander Stewart, the Mid Scotland and Fife MSP. The nurse also spoke with Labour politicians and Alba's Ash Regan, and was joined in Holyrood by campaigners fighting for single-sex spaces including Maya Forstater, of the gender-critical charity Sex Matters. According to The Courier, John Swinney, the First Minister, and his deputy Kate Forbes declined an invitation to meet Ms Peggie. Mr Findlay said it was a 'privilege' to meet Ms Peggie 'and to hear a first-hand account of her appalling ordeal'. He added: 'It is outrageous that a dedicated NHS nurse's career has been destroyed and her life consumed by a suffocating legal process simply because she stood up for women's rights. 'Sandie has paid a massive price for her brave and principled stand against the SNP Government's promotion of gender politics which now infects Scotland's entire public sector.' Mr Findlay also accused SNP leaders of declining to meet Ms Peggie 'because so many SNP politicians are still in the grip of these dangerous and damaging beliefs'. Ms Peggie, an A&E nurse at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, was suspended in January last year and subjected to a disciplinary investigation after she challenged Dr Upton for using a female changing room on Dec 24 2023. Dr Upton filed a complaint against Ms Peggie, accusing her of bullying and creating a hostile environment, and describing the encounter as a 'hate incident'. An employment tribunal hearing was adjourned in March after Ms Peggie's lawyer accused the health board of failing to comply with a request to disclose internal documents relevant to the case. It is scheduled to resume on July 16. 'Politicians need to hear from Sandie' Margaret Gribbon, Ms Peggie's solicitor, said: 'Politicians needed to hear directly from Sandie to understand how the sheer depth of the discrimination and harassment she and women like her have endured in workplaces – in her case, as a nurse with 30 years unblemished service, simply because she objected to having to undress in front of a man. 'We were grateful for the politicians' time and welcomed the opportunity to share insights into how misguided actions by public bodies such as NHS Fife have devastating real-life consequences and come at great expense to the Scottish taxpayer. 'We had productive meetings, and the door is always open for any politicians who were unable to meet Sandie today.' Ms Forstater said: 'It was important for politicians to hear directly from Sandie Peggie, given that Scottish public bodies, from NHS Fife right up to the Scottish Government itself, are continuing to delay policy changes following the Supreme Court judgement. 'We urged politicians to consider this as a matter of urgency, as the Supreme Court made crystal clear that organisations which allow men to identify their way into female facilities are operating outside the law.' A Scottish Government spokesman said no meeting between ministers and Ms Peggie took place, adding: 'It would be inappropriate to comment further while judicial proceedings in an employment tribunal are ongoing.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
'Man with knife' spotted in Scottish playpark as police scrambled to scene
Police are searching for a 'man with a knife' who was spotted at a Scottish playpark. The alarm was raised shortly before 2pm on Sunday, June 15, as officers received a report of a man with the bladed weapon at a playpark on Rossend Terrace in Burntisland, Fife. Images from the scene show police watching over the park as locals claimed to have seen them carrying out door-to-door inquiries following the terrifying incident. READ MORE: Actor hits out at lifetime Jet2 ban after 'row over Pringles' on Edinburgh flight READ MORE: Edinburgh woman sues charity and earns £8k compensation payout over 'holiday row' Concerned parents vented their frustration on social media, reports the Daily Record. One person wrote: "My wean was at the park and some dude with a couple dogs was threatening one of her pal's maws with a knife." Another said: "They were looking for a bald headed guy with a knife." A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 1.55pm on Sunday, 15 June, 2025, we received a report of a man with a knife in a playpark in Rossend Terrace, Burntisland. Enquiries are ongoing." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
'The NHS saved me,' says teen who's played the bagpipes on 282 Munros
As Joel Davey stood atop Ben Lomond and took in the view over the loch in the driving rain and wind, it marked the end of a record-breaking challenge to scale all 282 Munros in a year – and play the bagpipes at the peak of each one. The astonishing feat was the 18-year-old's way to give back to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), by raising money for the charity that saved his life after he had open heart surgery as a baby for a rare disorder. The operation allowed him to enjoy a rough-and-tumble childhood, including playing rugby, cross-country running and, of course, climbing hills. By the age of 11 he had already scaled Monte Cinto, the highest mountain in Corsica, where he played Highland Cathedral on his bagpipes. After taking stock of just how much the surgery had given him in life, he decided to repeat the feat on each Munro – Scottish mountains over 3,000ft – in one year and play a few notes of the same stirring tune on every summit. Mr Davey, from Fife, said: 'I love the tune and it brings me to tears, but I've now heard it 12 times a day after lugging an out-of-tune bagpipe up 282 Munros. 'For a Scottish instrument it really doesn't like the rain.' Last year Mr Davey, battled 90mph winds on the Cuillin Ridge on the Isle of Skye, where he was roped to the summit of the Inaccessible Pinnacle so he could blast Highland Cathedral into the gale. His epic endeavour is all the more impressive as he broke his back shortly before sitting his Highers. Despite being in pain he got impressive results that earned a place at Aberdeen University to study Ancient History and Archaeology. He tackled the climbs during a gap year before starting university. His father Dan, who climbed the last Munro with Mr Davey, said: 'It's an incredible achievement – he's a young man with a sense of moral responsibility who wanted to give back for his life being saved. I'm proud of him.' Mr Davey said he was 'quite sad to have finished as it was so freeing to be up in the mountains'. David McColgan, head of BHF Scotland, said: 'We couldn't be more thankful or prouder of this extraordinary young man.'
