RAH nurse Lynda Marion Roberts worked at another Adelaide hospital while suspended, court finds

A suspended RAH nurse dealing with her “controlling” husband’s cancer battle and death began working at another hospital while she was banned, a magistrate says.

A Royal Adelaide Hospital nurse who was knowingly suspended from working at SA Health sites found work at another hospital while banned, a court has heard.

Lynda Marion Roberts, 63, of Payneham, was found guilty in the Adelaide Magistrates Court of a charge of failing to act honestly while working as a public sector employee.

The court heard she was employed as a registered nurse in the intensive care unit at the RAH in January 2015 when she was banned from working at SA Health sites after “two clinical incidents” relating to her “standard of care”.

Former RAH registered nurse Lynda Roberts, who was found guilty of working at another hospital while banned, outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court. Picture: Jordanna Schriever

A doctor at the hospital began a preliminary investigation in response to the concerns raised about Roberts’ conduct.

In March 2015, Roberts was advised she would be suspended from duty with pay pending the outcome of the investigation. She was suspended from working as a nurse later that month.

In finding Roberts guilty, Magistrate Jonathon Wells said the conditions of the suspension included a direction that she not work without approval, attend or enter the premises of any SA Health workplace unless she was seeking genuine treatment or supporting someone else seeking treatment.

He said Roberts subsequently applied for a job as a nurse at the Repatriation General Hospital and worked multiple shifts between early July 2015 and October 2015.

“Roberts did not have approval to attend or enter the Repat hospital,” Mr Wells said.

“Roberts worked as a nurse at the Repat hospital knowing she was prohibited from doing so.

“I find Roberts knowingly and dishonestly disobeyed the conditions of her suspension.”

A police prosecutor said the offence was “particularly serious” and required denunciation and deterrence when a sentence is imposed.

The prosecutor said Roberts had showed a “lack of integrity” to continue working while suspended, posing a risk to patients.

Roberts, who represented herself at the hearing, said she was under considerable stress at the time because of her “demanding and controlling” husband’s cancer battle and death in 2015.

She said she had worked as a nurse since 1980 after training in New Zealand. The mother of seven said she worked interstate before accepting a position at the RAH in 2004.

She said the Australian Health and Practitioner Regulation Authority had found she had no case to answer in regard to the incidents that led to her suspension.

Roberts said she thought the matter was finalised while she was working at The Repat.

Mr Wells said he would not jail Roberts when he imposes sentence next month, noting she had no other blemishes on her record and had contributed “significantly” to the community.