Faith Chareka had previously pleaded guilty to making £19,500 and accruing 540 hours time off in lieu (TOIL) by falsely adding 50 shifts between 1 November 2020 and 1 February 2023 while employed by Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust.

A trust spokesperson said: ‘We are committed to tackling fraud in the NHS wherever we find it. The vast majority of our staff are honest hard-working people and we encourage them to report any suspicions so we can work with Counter Fraud Specialists to investigate.'

Chareka was dismissed by the trust on the 14 June 2023 on the grounds of gross misconduct.

She had been sentenced to an 18-month suspended sentence with a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for 15 days and unpaid work requirement of 200 hours.

The Fitness to Practise Committee commented: ‘The panel was concerned about the potential impact of your conduct on patient services and the workforce. Your conduct removed substantial funds from the trust during and beyond the Covid pandemic, which placed pressure on already challenged NHS resources.

‘Your dishonest receipt of TOIL meant that rather than you working the shifts, the shifts would need to be covered by others. The panel concluded that your conduct could have had a direct impact on human resources and the financial position of the trust.'