Health Ombudsman v Skobe

The Health Ombudsman filed proceedings against Skobe, a registered nurse, who was convicted of stealing money from vulnerable patients on 29 separate occasions. The case was heard in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, which was required to determine whether Skobe should be disqualified from registration as a health practitioner and prohibited from providing any health services. The tribunal found that Skobe had engaged in professional misconduct and unprofessional conduct, and subsequently reprimanded her, cancelled her registration, disqualified her from applying for registration for 18 months, and prohibited her from providing any health services until she is re-registered as a nurse. The tribunal also set aside an interim prohibition order and an immediate registration action that were previously made by the Health Ombudsman.

The tribunal found Skobe guilty of professional misconduct for stealing from vulnerable patients and unprofessional conduct for failing to act with honesty and integrity. The tribunal considered Skobe’s lack of remorse and her previous history of dishonesty, including two previous convictions for stealing. The tribunal found that Skobe’s actions had undermined public confidence in the nursing profession and that her registration should be cancelled. The tribunal also found that Skobe should be prohibited from providing any health services until she is re-registered as a nurse, as her actions had posed a risk to patient safety. The tribunal did not make an order as to costs.