Helena Maryja Heaft admits working as registered nurse while suspended
A nurse terminated from SA Health allegedly continued to work at aged care homes to pay the bills, a court has heard.
Law and Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law and Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A nurse convicted of criminal offences has admitted working 65 shifts in aged care homes while suspended — because she was struggling to pay for food and bills, a court has heard.
Helena Maryja Heaft, 54, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday where she pleaded guilty to 66 counts of claiming to be a registered health practitioner while unregistered.
Craig Fabbian, prosecuting for the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, told the court Heaft was suspended for 25 years on January 29, 2018 after AHPRA became aware of her criminal convictions for dishonesty offences.
He said Heaft had failed to notify the board of those convictions, or a later conviction for supplying a prescription drug to another person without authority. The court heard those charges related to unused medication belonging to her husband which she gave to a colleague.
She was terminated from her role at SA Health, but “continued to work through an employment agency, accepting work as a registered nurse” at aged care facilities around Adelaide between February and June 2018.
“During the course of those 65 shifts, she undertook in excess of 484 hours of paid work,” Mr Fabbian said.
In total, he said Heaft had earned $29,184.72 for her work at three aged care facilities in Glengowrie, Evanston Park and Angle Park during the 65 shifts.
“She knew that she was suspended and knew that she was not permitted to undertake work as a registered nurse,” he said.
“Despite that she was offered shift work and she personally accepted that work and then would present at these aged care facilities wearing the appropriate nurses uniform with a nurses identification badge.”
He said Heaft had been appointed as clinical leader during some of her shifts and had duties including overseeing the care of residents, conducting health assessments and dispensing medication including the administration of drugs of dependence.
“One of the very concerns for the board when imposing her suspension was noting her convictions for supplying prescription drugs without authority,” he said.
“They made it specifically clear within the suspension notice that they wanted to protect the community.”
He said Heaft also falsified a registration certificate, which she emailed to the agency employing her.
Michelle Barnes, for Heaft, said because both she had been suspended and her husband was made redundant the couple were struggling financially.
“They were in a position where they could not pay their mortgage and they couldn’t pay their bills, and even they couldn’t find food.
“When she was called by the nursing agency and offered some shifts, she took those shifts.”
“She realises, of course, that that was unacceptable, but that was the only way she could provide for her family.”
She said her client, who had worked as a nurse for 30 years with expertise working with older people, was “very remorseful” for her actions.
She said no patients were put in danger while she continued to work.
Ms Barnes said Heaft provided the false registration certificate because she “panicked”, before coming clean to the employment agency within hours.
She said Heaft, who now worked in a call centre, was “not in a position to pay a large fine” and asked the court consider community service as a penalty.
The maximum penalty for each count is a $30,000 fine. Heaft will return to court for sentencing in December.
She changed her clothes and covered her face before she left court. She declined to comment.