A senior nurse has been struck off after medication went missing from a hospital.

James Flynn worked on the Critical Care Outreach Team at Darent Valley Hospital from 2011 but in 2014 colleagues noticed suspicious behaviour when Flynn failed to dispose of morphine.

A Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) disciplinary hearing heard that on July 22 that year, a patient was being given morphine via a bag.

Flynn took the bag down when the patient had received 35mg, meaning there was still 65mg left over which needed to be disposed of. Two nurses are needed to witness this and a record book signed.

But instead, a nurse, named as Ms 3, witnessed Flynn go to the patient’s bedside and draw the curtains around the bed. Shortly after, she heard an alarm sounding and found the lockable box which contained the morphine bag was open and the bag missing.

"We expect our staff to act professionally and with honesty and integrity at all times. We will always take action when this is found not to be the case" - DVH spokesman

Ms 3 confronted Flynn who admitted removing the bag for disposal, and said he would document it, but he did not. She questioned why an outreach worker would take the morphine down in the first place and Flynn replied, “Am I in trouble?”.

Suspicions were raised again on August 28, when Flynn administered 2.5mg of diamorphine to a patient but failed to dispose of the drugs left over from the 5mg vial.

A nurse noticed and contacted the matron. The pair went through the bin with forceps, removing each item, but could not find the syringe.

None of the drugs or paraphernalia were ever recovered.

Flynn was found guilty of four charges and part of one other, which included failing to dispose of diamorphine - medical heroin - and morphine, and not documenting it properly.

The NMC, represented by Francis O’Toole, found that as well as these actions, Flynn was also guilty of being dishonest in an attempt to conceal that he himself had kept the drugs.

Flynn chose not to take part in the hearing proceedings in any way and was not represented.

In mitigation, it was noted that Flynn had previously been considered a person of good character. One colleague said: “I found him to be very supportive in medical emergencies. He [cared] very much for the patients and their wellbeing.”

However the panel found that as an experienced nurse he “ought to have been setting an example for junior members of staff”, he had “abused his senior position” and “brought the profession into disrepute”.

Flynn will be removed from the NMC register and must not apply for restoration for five years.

An interim suspension order is in place as Flynn has 28 days to appeal.

A spokesman for Darent Valley Hospital said: “Mr Flynn worked for the trust as a charge nurse in the Critical Care Outreach Team.

“The trust initiated an investigation in September 2014 following a number of concerns.

“The investigation resulted in Mr Flynn being dismissed from the trust in February 2015. Between September 2014 and February 2015, Mr Flynn was not working at the trust.

“The trust referred the case to the NMC and the police.

“We expect our staff to act professionally and with honesty and integrity at all times. We will always take action when this is found not to be the case.”

A police spokesman said: “The theft was reported, investigated and liaison with the NHS was regular during this process.

“Once the misconduct panel dismissed Mr Flynn, the decision was made that as he had received a significant sanction, there was no further need to take any action.”