Queensland Health nurse Felicity Kate Morris ‘accidentally’ took ketamine from Mackay Base Hospital

A young Queensland Health nurse found herself at the centre of a criminal and workplace investigation after she “accidentally” removed a hallucinogenic drug from a regional hospital.

Mackay Base Hospital. Picture: Tony Martin

A simple mistake resulted in a Mackay nurse becoming the centre of a criminal and workplace investigation after she accidentally took home a vial of ketamine from the hospital.

Mackay Base Hospital nurse Felicity Kate Morris did not return it straight away – not for any sinister reason, she was simply “trying to figure out what to do”, a court heard.

She had placed the vial in her bag, which coincidentally had been at a friend’s property when it was raided by police who uncovered the ketamine.

“She’s a non-drug user and it was an accidental possession,” her solicitor Sean Gibbs said.

‘Got busy and forgot’

Mackay Magistrates Court heard CCTV cameras captured Morris withdrawing three vials of ketamine while on shift at the hospital which had been co-signed out with another nurse at 10.30pm on November 27, 2023.

Two of the vials were traced to a patient to whom they had been administered, but the third vial could not be found.

Prosecutor Sergeant Hannah Beaumont said Felicity told police she had “placed the third vial in her scruff pocket with an intention to return it when she had the opportunity on the shift”.

Mackay Base Hospital nurse Felicity Kate Morris accidentally removed a vial of ketamine from work. But before she could return it she was caught by police.

“She got busy on the shift and forgot to return the vial … she only realised this when she got home,” Sergeant Beaumont said.

“She left the ketamine with her bag so that when she went back to work she could have thought out how to return it.

“Police then raided the house and found the ketamine.”

As a result Morris was suspended from work pending a police investigation.

Sergeant Beaumont said Morris’s claim the possession was accidental was accepted by police prosecution.

Morris, 26, pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs.

The court heard she was also suspended from clinical duties between December 2023 and April 2024, and had been reduced from clinical duties pending the investigation. There was also an investigation in relation to her blue card.

‘Trying to figure out what to do’

Fisher Dore Lawyers’ Sean Gibbs said his client had lawfully taken the ketamine to be used as part of her job before accidentally leaving a vial in her scrubs pocket.

“She took it home and then she was off shift for a couple of days,” Mr Gibbs said.

“She was trying to figure out how to take it back and then the police raided (the property) for an entirely different matter.

“Obviously she was immediately concerned that she’d mishandled the … drug.”

Mackay Base Hospital. Picture: Tony Martin

Mr Gibbs said this was why she did not returned it immediately.

“She was trying to figure out what to do essentially,” he said.

“She’s been cooperative from the start.”
The court heard she answered all questions and voluntarily provided her phone “because there was an investigation as to whether this was something else other than what’s been accepted by police”.

Mr Gibbs said Morris had regularly worked night shifts that month, six of which had been 12-hour overtime shifts.

“She was also caring for her nan who had dementia at the time,” he said.

‘Extremely out of character’

The court heard she had worked at the hospital for three years and had completed a nursing degree, postgraduate studies in emergency department nursing and graduated with a masters in advanced nursing practice majoring in the emergency department.

She pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court to possessing dangerous drugs.

Mr Gibbs said the investigation into this matter had a significant impact on her and her mental wellbeing, for which she had sought assistance.

Magistrates Bronwyn Hartigan accepted the charge was “extremely out of character for you”.

“It is accepted by prosecutions that this was not for your own use, Ms Hartigan said.

“It wasn’t to supply anyone else. There was nothing sinister about your possession of the drug … that it was accidental but of course it was in your possession.

“Obviously you shouldn’t have taken it out of the hospital.”

Ms Hartigan accepted Morris was very well thought of, “It’s hard to imagine a person of better character”, but found it was “too serious to absolutely discharge you”.

Morris was placed on a one-month good behaviour bond and a conviction was not recorded.