A FORMER West Somerset paramedic who fraudulently obtained arounda 1,000 ampoules of morphine - a Class A drug - from his employers has been struck off.

Troy Hall, formerly of Tower Hill, Williton, was found to have used personal identity numbers of non-existent or former staff of the South Western Ambulance Service to gain access to the morphine, which was kept in a locked cupboard at Taunton ambulance station.

When suspicions were aroused, his home was searched and a total of ten different types of prescription-only drugs found, including painkillers and adrenaline, taken from his employers and other unknown places.

Hall was said to have obtained the morphine between September 2007 and February 2008 and resigned when the revelations came to light.

But further checks carried out by SWAS revealed that he had also breached his contract with the organisation by working at Bridgwater College between 2005 and 2006, and North Somerset Council from 2006 to 2007, while employed and paid as a paramedic.

In 2008 Hall netted a new job with the Great Western Ambulance NHS Trust but he failed to mention his recent resignation and told his new employers that he had stopped working for SWAS in 2006, claiming he had taken a "career break".

A hearing of the Health Professions Council in London found the "very serious" allegations relating to the fraudulent obtaining of morphine and fraudulent entries in a drug control register proved.

It also found the allegations relating to all but four of the prescription-only drugs proved, but cleared him of a claim that he did not hand back trust equipment - a defibrillator and a work pager - as the items were returned after his first disciplinary interview.

Further allegations proved included the breach of contract through the secondary paid employment and the incorrect information given to obtain employment with the Great Western Ambulance NHS Trust.

The hearing found that Hall's conduct in relation to securing the job was dishonest and that his behaviour in relation to all the allegations constituted misconduct.

Hall did not attend nor was represented at the two-day hearing.

Panel chairman Derek Aidan-Harris said such was the serious nature of Hall's misconduct, that his fitness to practice as a registered health professional was impaired.

"The panel has heard nothing to indicate that the registrant [Hall] has taken any measures or steps towards addressing the issues raised by this case," he said.

"In any event, such is the level of dishonesty and lack of integrity of the registrant's misconduct and the serious breaches of many of the fundamental tents of the profession, that it is the panel's view that it is inevitable that his fitness to practise is impaired."

Hall was said to have displayed "substandard and unethical personal behaviour" with the dishonest taking of Class A and prescription-only drugs and his dishonest job application with the motive to hide his previous dishonest conduct with the morphine.

Mr Aidan-Harris said the fraudulent obtaining of the morphine had been over a relatively long period of time, premeditated and from a position of trust.

Hall had also gained considerable financial advantage in performing a total of three jobs at the same time for which he was receiving payment.

And he had shown a total lack of insight and remorse, not apologising or providing any explanation for his actions.

Mr Aidan-Harris said the panel had considered taking no action and instigating mediation but had rejected this because the misconduct found proved was too serious.

It also rejected imposing a caution order because of the aggravating factors and the fear that public confidence in the profession would be undermined.

Also rejected was a 'conditions of practice order' and a suspension order.

"The panel determined that the only proportionate sanction is that of a striking off order," said Mr Aidan-Harris.