A nurse has been deregistered for falsely claiming nearly £20,000 for shifts she did not actually work. Faith Chareka, employed in the emergency department at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust in Surrey, was found guilty of fraudulent activity by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) fitness to practice committee.
Chareka manipulated the system by logging 50 fictitious shifts from November 1, 2020, to February 1, 2023. These shifts were predominantly paid at an increased rate for night shifts, holidays, and weekends, resulting in illegitimate earnings of £19,575.41 and 540 hours of unmerited time off in lieu (TOIL).
Following her admission of guilt in 2024, Chareka was given an 18-month suspended sentence with a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 200 hours of unpaid work. She was terminated by the trust in 2023 after an investigation exposed her actions.
During the sentencing, it was noted that Chareka engaged in calculated deceit over a two-year period. The offense was described as detrimental to the financially strained NHS, according to Rosie Welsh, the case presenter for the NMC.
Chareka’s actions were deemed to jeopardize patient care and impose additional strain on the healthcare service due to potential understaffing and reduced support for colleagues. Despite expressing remorse and reflecting on her behavior, the panel decided to strike her off the nursing register.
An interim suspension order of 18 months was also imposed until the conclusion of the 28-day appeal period. This decision was made to ensure public confidence in the profession and uphold the seriousness of her misconduct.
