**Nurse Dismissed After Theft and Cover-Up of Codeine From Powys Care Home**
A registered nurse who worked at a care home in Newtown, Powys, has been removed from the nursing register after it was revealed he stole the controlled drug codeine and then attempted to conceal his actions. The incident, which took place at Bethshan Nursing Home, led to an investigation by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and has raised important questions about safeguarding and drug management in care settings.
Bruce Evanson, who held the position of clinical lead at the care home from late 2021, was entrusted with the wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable members of the community. However, a lengthy investigation found he exploited this trust by diverting a medication specifically prescribed for patients.
Concerns within the home began to surface at the beginning of 2023, when one of Mr Evanson’s nursing colleagues began to notice discrepancies during regular inventory checks. Despite the initial inability to identify who was responsible for the missing medication, suspicion mounted as monthly audits revealed continued losses. By March, sufficient evidence had been gathered to indicate Mr Evanson’s involvement, prompting photographic documentation and a formal interview.
According to the care home manager, when confronted during this internal meeting, Mr Evanson at first professed ignorance. “At the beginning of the meeting, Bruce acted surprised and said, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ We said we had proof that codeine was missing, and that’s when his demeanour changed,” the manager recalled. It was only after being shown clear evidence that Evanson admitted to having taken the medication—a Class B opiate under UK law if misappropriated.
Initially, Mr Evanson attempted to justify his actions by claiming the tablets were destroyed because they were no longer needed, even signing internal medication documents to support this explanation. However, pictorial records contradicted his version, showing that the supposed number of tablets he claimed to have destroyed was inaccurate. Upon further investigation, he revealed he had taken the drugs for his own personal use during a period spanning from January to March of the previous year.
Evanson’s employment was terminated with immediate effect following his admission, and the matter was reported to Dyfed-Powys Police. The police issued an adult community resolution order—a measure sometimes used for lower-level offences, which can involve offender apologies or other restorative justice activities. Importantly, such resolutions do not result in a criminal record or require attendance at court.
Throughout this period, the NMC carried out its own fitness to practise inquiry. In their deliberations, the panel criticised Mr Evanson not only for the initial theft but for his subsequent efforts to mask the wrongdoing, stating, “It is reasonable to assume that, as a registered nurse, Mr Evanson would have known he was violating both ethical and professional standards.” The panel’s chair, Suzy Ashworth, noted that by diverting essential medication, Evanson put vulnerable residents at risk of unnecessary pain and distress.
The investigation further revealed a lack of engagement on Mr Evanson’s part; despite numerous attempts by the NMC to involve him in the inquiry, he reportedly failed to cooperate at any stage. This absence of accountability and remorse was cited in support of the panel’s decision to strike Mr Evanson off the nursing register altogether—a move signalling the seriousness with which such breaches of trust are regarded in the profession.
Cases such as these highlight the ongoing need for robust drug management protocols and vigilant staff oversight in all care facilities. Losing access to needed medications can have severe consequences for residents reliant on precise treatment regimes, underscoring why professional integrity remains a central pillar of the nursing code.
While the immediate risks at Bethshan Nursing Home have been addressed, the story serves as a cautionary reminder for care institutions across Wales and beyond about the importance of routine audits, staff support initiatives, and fostering a culture where concerns about misconduct can be raised without fear. For many, the case has reinforced the call for stricter supervision in order to protect the welfare and safety of those entrusted to care homes.