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West Yorkshire paramedic was accused of stealing from patients
Colleagues who reported a West Yorkshire-based veteran paramedic to a health watchdog after she was accused of stealing money from patients acted out of "self-preservation", a hearing was told.
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Paramedics working with Angela Armitage at Honley Ambulance Station near Huddersfield were so worried about her behaviour they wrote to the Health Professions Council (HPC) with their concerns.
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The HPC's Conduct and Competence Committee, meeting in central London, heard the police investigated four allegations of theft against Mrs Armitage but no charges were ever brought.
Her representative, Mick Barraclough, said the fact the charges were in a "relatively short time frame" given Mrs Armitage's 20-year-long career was significant.
He said: "There is no evidence whatsoever that Mrs Armitage has stolen patient's belongings or money. The only evidence appears to be based on innuendo."
He said her colleagues made their complaint because they were worried they would be dragged into the scandal.
Simon Rochell, who worked with Mrs Armitage and was one of the paramedics who complained to the HPC, denied he was motivated by clashes over her age.
He also denied claims Mrs Armitage was a target for work gossips because of her fondness for going on naturist holidays, adding: "Mrs Armitage was quite open about the fact she was a naturist. It wasn't a problem."
An earlier hearing was told the first complaint against Mrs Armitage, who had worked in the area since 1978, was made in 2002. It was made by a member of the public who said money had been taken from her mother but was withdrawn two weeks later. Other allegations followed and the police were called in but took no further action due to a lack of evidence.
The hearing was told Mrs Armitage, who is accused of misconduct, has now taken early retirement.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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