An NHS manager in Scotland has admitted to stealing over £8,000 from doctors who were treating seriously ill children at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh. Jacqueline Robertson, a cleaning manager at the hospital, took the money over an 11-month period in 2018 to fuel her gambling addiction, which had spiraled out of control.
Robertson’s role involved collecting payments from doctors staying overnight at the hospital, but instead of processing the funds as required, she pocketed them. The scam was uncovered after an investigation, during which Robertson confessed to her actions.
Her defense attorney revealed that Robertson, who had worked for the NHS for seven years and was previously a cleaner before being promoted, had developed a gambling problem shortly before committing the theft. This addiction led her to accumulate significant debts, prompting her to take the money intended for hospital residency fees.
During the court proceedings, Robertson expressed deep remorse for her actions, acknowledging the gravity of the charges against her. The sentencing was postponed to a later date for further assessment.