Qld nurse banned from prescribing and handling drugs after forgery charge

A Queensland nurse has been charged with forgery and has been banned by the health watchdog from prescribing, administering or handling certain powerful prescription drugs.

Manyara Chimuka.

A Queensland nurse has been charged with forgery and has been banned by the health watchdog from prescribing, administering or handling certain powerful prescription drugs.

Manyara Chimuka is due back in Ipswich Magistrates Court to face a charge of utter forged document on October 18, and the case has been set down for sentencing, the court registry has confirmed.

Her court appearance comes as the state’s health ombudsman took immediate registration action by imposing conditions on Ms Chimuka’s registration.

On September 15 the ombudsman ordered Ms Chimuka, from Lowood in the Lockyer Valley, must not be the most senior nurse and/or the sole nurse on any shift when practising as a registered nurse.

She also must not prescribe, possess, supply, administer, handle, dispense, access or check prescription drugs listed as having a “higher potential for misuse” such as all benzodiazepines, codeine, gabapentin and tramadol, other than when directly observed by another registered nurse.

She must only work at Ipswich Hospital and at no other medical centre.

According to the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency Ms Chimuka graduated from her nursing degree at James Cook University in 2012.

The action would continue until either the ombudsman removes the conditions imposed or the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) overturns it, the OHO says in the statement on its website.