Paramedic Stripped of License for 'Lying' About Day Off Now Works in NHS Ward

A former paramedic who was struck off for allegedly lying about her sister’s illness to take a day off work has now found a new role on a hospital ward, according to recent reports.

Natalie Twomey claimed that her sister was seriously unwell to get time off, but she was caught when her sibling posted photos on Facebook showing her putting up Christmas decorations. A panel from the Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service (HCPTS) later ruled that she had lied to "mislead" her employer, the London Ambulance Service (LAS), and banned her from working as a paramedic. The panel also heard that she had arrived at work smelling of alcohol and had "dishonestly" claimed payment for more hours than she worked.

Despite being struck off as a paramedic, Ms Twomey is now working as a healthcare support worker with the NHS Torbay and South Devon Trust and is training to become a nurse.

This week, she shared a photo on social media of herself posing on a hospital ward with colleagues in front of a Christmas tree, accompanied by a caption that read: "Merry Xmas". She has also posted other images of her new life working at the hospital, including a shift on Christmas Day. The HCPTS ruling stated that she had provided "information" to the panel confirming her new career. The organisation has contacted the NHS Torbay and South Devon Trust for comment.

Although she is no longer allowed to work as a paramedic, Natalie is not restricted in her current role, as the sector is regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

During the hearing, it was revealed that while working at the London Ambulance Service in November 2022, Ms Twomey emailed her bosses to say that she could not attend work because her sister’s health had "deteriorated again" and she needed to drive to Norfolk to be with her. However, staff discovered pictures of festive decorations on her sibling’s Facebook account from the same day, which the panel described as "inconsistent" with her being sick enough to need to be with her.

During the hearing, it was also mentioned that Ms Twomey was removed from front-line duties in June 2023 after she arrived at work smelling of alcohol. While renewing her registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) regulator, she did not inform them that restrictions had been placed on her practice.

Ms Twomey also sent an email to the LAS’s recruitment department to discuss a secondment and claimed that the reason she was on non-patient facing duties was due to a back and knee injury. She also provided false information regarding her working hours in 2023.

Ms Twomey was eventually dismissed from the LAS at the end of 2023 due to her "capability and failure to attend work regularly". She told the panel that she had "fully accepted responsibility for what has happened" and that her behaviour was "out of character".