A NURSE who worked “numerous” shifts while on paid leave from a Glasgow hospital was caught after he bragged about his new job on Facebook.

Steven Lambie has been struck off the nursing register after he took a job with a care home while on sick leave from the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

An inquiry also found that he consumed Diazepam from stocks at a hospice during a shift and failed to disclose he had been convicted of drink driving to nursing watchdogs.

The incidents happened while Mr Lambie was employed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde from November 13 2014 to February 18 2016.

An inquiry was told he worked 49 shifts at Balclutha Court care home in Greenock while on sick leave and adoption leave.

While working at the care home, on at least six occasions the nurse signed patient records to say he had given residents their medication when he had not.

In one incident last year, he recorded that a resident had refused their medication, when it had not been removed from the packaging.

He also admitting stealing Diazepam from stocks at Ardgowan Hospice for his own use.

Mr Lambie was also convicted of drink driving at Greenock Sheriff Court on June 6 2016 and did not disclose this to the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

At least sixteen charges were found proved against the nurse and his name will be removed from the nursing register.

Mr Lambie told the inquiry he had paid back the full amount of sick pay claimed while working shifts but said he had not been asked to pay back money claimed while on adoption leave.

The inquiry was told that the medication errors occurred when Mr Lambie was experiencing “extremely difficult personal circumstances.”

However, in a statement the NMC said: “The panel is satisfied that, by virtue of your misconduct you have put patients at unwarranted risk of harm.

“You have admitted to repeated dishonesty over a long period of time including; taking and consuming diazepam from hospice stock, undertaking numerous shifts for financial gain when you were on paid sick leave and/or adoption leave from your position at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, failing to inform NMC that you had a conviction.

“In the panel’s view your premeditated course of dishonest conduct seriously abused the trust placed in you as a registered trust bringing the profession into disrepute.”

A spokesman for NHSGGC said: “The board’s internal disciplinary procedures were put in place following a review of the staff member’s practice and he was referred to the NMC.

"We note the NMC’s decision and this person is no longer employed by the board."