An experienced nurse could be struck off after she was caught stealing tranquillizers from Macclesfield Hospital.

Natalie Louise Hudson, 38, took 11 diazepam tablets from a secure drawer in the Accident and Emergency ward on November 8, last year.

When she was caught Hudson, a nurse for 15 years, blamed her actions on staff shortages at the hospital and personal problems.

The single mum-of-two was sacked by East Cheshire NHS Trust, which runs the hospital.

Hudson’s case has been referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which will hold a ‘fitness to practise’ hearing and decide on a sanction including the possibility of being removed from the national nursing register permanently.

At Macclesfield magistrates’ court on Tuesday, March 8, Hudson, also known as Natalie Fowler, of Brook Lane, Alderley Edge, admitted theft by an employee and possession of a class C drug.

Richard Sealey, prosecuting, said the offence involved a breach of trust.

He said: “The defendant began her job at the hospital in September 2015. In November, an A&E supervisor noticed 11 tablets missing from a drawer.

“Access to the drawer is monitored through finger print recognition and a written log.

“The Trust launched an investigation. When questioned by supervisors Hudson said she had dropped a tablet for a patient and went to replace it. She was later interviewed by police she admitted taking the tablets. She told officers she found the job stressful because the hospital was short staffed and she had child care issues following the breakdown of her marriage.”

Colin Drew, defending Hudson, said an inexplicable ‘moment of madness’ had tarnished ‘a hitherto unblemished career’.

He said: “Her relationship broke down leaving her a single mother. She was struggling and was on antidepressants and diazepam. She really wasn’t up to the job.

“She had time off and then returned to work on compressed hours. It didn’t work. She became depressed and matters overwhelmed her. She says she was doing the job of two nurses. That tipped her over the edge.

“She can’t explain why she took them. She could’ve replaced them but went into a blind panic and disposed of them in a sanitary bin in the toilets. She later told a colleague and they were recovered and have since been destroyed. It was a stupid moment’s madness which has caused a big problem for her. She now faces action from the Nurses and Midwifery Council. She went from earning £30,000 a year to claiming benefits.”

Magistrates fined Hudson £120 and ordered her to pay £105 costs.

East Cheshire NHS Trust declined to comment.