Tribunal disqualifies former nurse for two years for criminal offences

03 Jul 2019

A tribunal has reprimanded a former nurse and disqualified her from applying for registration for two years for professional misconduct.

On 12 September 2018, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) referred Ms Denise Sobey to the State Administrative Tribunal of Western Australia (the tribunal), after Ms Sobey was convicted of numerous criminal offences in Western Australia and Tasmania.

Between November 2016 and April 2018, Ms Sobey was convicted of, among other things, breaches of restraining orders, common assault, trespass, stalking and threatening a public officer.

Ms Sobey surrendered her registration with effect from 5 October 2018 and has not been registered since that time. Ms Sobey admitted that her behaviour constituted professional misconduct and that she has a health impairment.

On 29 October 2019, the tribunal made orders that Ms Sobey behaved in a way that constitutes professional misconduct, that she has an impairment, reprimanded her and disqualified her from applying for registration as a nurse for two years.

The Tribunal noted that Ms Sobey has sought and is continuing to undergo treatment with respect to her impairment.

The tribunal’s decision is published on the eCourts Portal of Western Australia.