Arrested 'Fake Nurse' worked in four Medway surgeries

A 46 year old woman has been arrested in Wales, after allegedly working as a registered nurse in Medway for four years without the appropriate qualifications.

More than 1000 patients received vaccinations and over 300 women had smear tests carried out by her, all of whom have all been written to and offered re-tests and new vaccinations.

Denise Stewart worked in four Medway surgeries between August 2006 and September 2010: They were the New Road Surgery in Chatham; Brompton Medical Centre; Dr S B Bhasme's practice in Gillingham and Wigmore Medical Centre – none are making any comment. A helpline number has been set up for patients who may be concerned on 0345 6029904.

The Kent and Medway NHS said Denise Stewart's background was as a healthcare assistant, with a spokesman adding: "Our investigations have not found any problems with the work this person has carried out and there is no reason to believe that there has been any harm to anyone's health. We have also checked and we are not aware of any complaints about this person at any stage during their employment. Patients do not need to contact Kent Police in relation to this matter. Kent Police is carrying out a full and thorough investigation and can confirm that a 46-year-old woman from Brecon in Wales has been arrested and is currently on police bail."

There must be many patients now desperately waiting for new results and answers as to how this could have happened. From what I've read in various sources, there is some kind of annual check made on medical staff - so was it a case that she left one surgery and joined another at that point, with them all assuming hers had been done? Is that why there were four surgeries involved in a four year period - just in Medway? She also managed to fit one in over the water in Essex in that period; I can't help but wonder how normal it is for a nurse to chop and change surgeries that many times and if it isn't, didn't anyone hear the alarm bells?