Nurse accused of $7000 shopping spree with patient’s card back in court

Six weeks after a nurse appeared in court accused of using a seriously ill patient’s bank card to go on a personal shopping spree, the healthcare watchdog has taken action.

Melelani Crelley.

Six weeks after a nurse appeared in court, accused of using a seriously ill patient’s bank card to go on a personal shopping spree, she has been suspended from working by the healthcare watchdog.

Melelani Crelley had her registration as a nurse suspended by the state’s Office of the Health Ombudsman on Tuesday, according to an announcement posted on their register of protective orders on Thursday.

Melelani Crelley leaves Southport Court. Picture: Greg Stolz

The 42-year-old, who was working for Queensland Health at Robina Hospital on the Gold Coast, appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on August 9 to face charges of one count of stealing and one count of fraud.

She was arrested and charged in July after a Mackay man noticed his mother’s bank card had racked up more than $7000 in transactions while she lay in Robina Hospital and later Gold Coast University Hospital, battling a life-threatening illness.

Daren Kirby ran his eye over dozens of transactions accrued at businesses across the Gold Coast while his mother was bed-bound, before noticing a bill from a Varsity Lakes hair salon.

After turning amateur detective, he traced the origin of the hair appointment and notified police.

Crelley was due back in court on Thursday.

According to the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency she graduated with her nursing degree from the University of Sydney in 2006 and was registered as a nurse the following year.

Originally published as Nurse accused of $7000 shopping spree with patient’s card back in court