Nursing and Midwifery Council determination — substantive hearing
Struck off the register
The regulator’s term: erasure
What does “struck off the register” mean?
Being struck off (the regulator calls this "erasure") removes the practitioner from the register. They are no longer permitted to practise this profession in the UK. Erasure can be reviewed after a minimum of five years, but is otherwise indefinite.
Concerning Jean McLeod, nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Council 07I0120S).
Decision date: 23 March 2026 · Hearing started 4 August 2025 and ended 23 March 2026
In plain English
The NMC's Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a striking-off order on Jean McLeod, a registered adult nurse from Fort William, on 23 March 2026. The panel found that on 7 September 2022 she stole and dishonestly used a colleague's bank card and then failed to disclose what she had done. The panel concluded the misconduct reflected deep-seated attitudinal concerns and a pattern of dishonesty, that she had limited insight, and that no lesser sanction would protect the public or maintain confidence in the profession. An interim suspension order of 18 months was imposed pending appeal.
Charges
That, on 7 September 2022, Ms McLeod (a) stole Colleague A's bank card and (b) used Colleague A's bank card to obtain goods. Her action at charge 1(b) was dishonest because she knew she had used Colleague A's bank card to obtain goods. Having realised she used Colleague A's bank card, she failed to inform Colleague A and/or her employer that she had used it, and that failure was dishonest in that she knew she had used the card. Charges 1b, 3 and 4 proved by admission; charges 1a and 2 proved.
Findings
The panel found Ms McLeod's fitness to practise impaired by reason of her misconduct. The panel determined that the misconduct was not easily remediable and that there was evidence of deep-seated attitudinal concerns and a repeated pattern of dishonest conduct, including discrepancies in her evidence which the panel determined was blatant dishonesty. The panel concluded there was no realistic possibility she would address the concerns to a level where she could return to practise safely.
Mitigating and aggravating factors
Mitigating factors
A previously unblemished career as a nurse. Some early admissions of some of the facts. Some apologies made to Colleague A in her reflective statement and during the hearing, albeit considered belated. Worked between September 2022 and October 2025 without incident, although given limited weight by the panel given the seriousness of further concerns raised in October 2025.
Aggravating factors
Abuse of trust in the workplace. Dishonesty of theft and initial concealment of the misconduct, demonstrating some premeditation. Pattern of misconduct between 7-9 September 2022 without evidence of steps taken to make things right. Dishonesty in giving evidence to the panel. Limited insight and remediation. Evidence of deep-seated attitudinal issues. Personal financial gain. New concern arising in October 2025 admitted by Ms McLeod, demonstrating a risk of harm to patients.
Source
All facts on this page are drawn from the publicly published Nursing and Midwifery Council determination linked below. MedicWatch does not editorialise the regulator’s findings.
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