Neonatal nurse who faked qualifications jailed for five years

Tanya Nasir, 45, had claimed to be a highly qualified neonatal nurse who had served in the army, but it was all false.

“She went to incredible lengths to manipulate her way into positions that demand integrity and honesty, yet showed none”

Gayle Ramsey

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) concluded that Nasir had put the lives of vulnerable babies at “significant risk”.

She was found guilty at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on nine charges, including fraud, using a false instrument with intent, possession of articles for use in fraud, and securing unauthorised access to computer material with intent.

She was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and can expect to spend at least half of this time in jail.

Nasir, of Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, was prosecuted following an investigation by the NHS Local Counter Fraud Authority.

In September 2019, she was employed as a band 7 ward manager at the neonatal ward of the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.

The trial heard that concerns came to light during a routine revalidation of Nasir’s NMC registration in January 2020.

Her line manager discovered inconsistencies with references during checks of her application and CV.

It was found that the information she provided on her application forms for employment at the Princess of Wales Hospital and two previous applications to the Hillingdon Hospital were false.

Nasir was subsequently suspended from her post in February 2020 and the investigation commenced which discovered anomalies with the defendant’s qualifications.

In her application to the Princess of Wales Hospital, Nasir had claimed she had qualified as a nurse and became registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council in 2010.

“Her actions put the lives of vulnerable patients at significant risk”

Gayle Ramsey

However, officers confirmed with her university that she did not qualify until 2014. Further checks were made with four other universities she had claimed to have obtained qualifications from.

Three of the universities confirmed she had never attended, while the fourth said she did attend but did not have any record of her being awarded one of the qualifications she had written in her application.

Previous employers were also contacted, with many confirming that Nasir was either not employed in the role she had claimed to have worked in, or that she had never been employed by them at all.

In all three applications, Nasir had claimed that she had served in the military and had been shot twice while being deployed overseas.

An investigation found that she had never been in the British Army or Army Reserve, rather that she joined the Army Cadet Force in November 2013 but was discharged and struck off in May 2016.

The trial heard that, when applying for a role at Hillingdon Hospital in 2015, Nasir gave a reference from a commanding officer in the reserves.

The email address she provided for the reference was the one she used during her time in the cadet force, and she used this to fabricate her own reference.

Meanwhile, in July 2019, Nasir provided a reference containing lies and fabrications on behalf of another woman, to enable her to also gain employment within the NHS.

The trial heard that her deception began back in 2010, when she failed to disclose a conviction while studying for a diploma in higher nursing education from Buckinghamshire New University.

She fabricated a letter to the university, claiming to come from Hertfordshire Probation Service, which said she was not under any obligation to tell the university about her convictions.

This letter convinced the university to allow her to continue her studies.

On 21 April 2021, Nasir was arrested, and her property was searched and digital devices and documents were seized.

When presented with the large amount of evidence compiled by the prosecution, the jury found the defendant guilty.

Gayle Ramsey, specialist prosecutor for the CPS, said: “Tanya Nasir deliberately lied about her qualifications and work experience so that she could gain employment in a senior and sensitive nursing role where she would be entrusted with the responsibility of caring for newborn babies.

“She went to incredible lengths to manipulate her way into positions that demand integrity and honesty, yet showed none,” added Ms Ramsey.

“Not only did she betray the trust of her employers and colleagues, but her actions put the lives of vulnerable patients at significant risk.”

Nasir is currently subject to an interim suspension order by the NMC, meaning she has been unable to practise as nurses while the criminal proceedings have been ongoing.

The NMC said it was aware of the sentencing and will be taking “appropriate regulatory steps”.

It is likely she will be struck off the register for good.