A London-based paramedic has been struck off the medical register after a tribunal found she fabricated a story about her sister's critical illness to get time off work, with the lie unraveling thanks to festive Facebook photos.
Deception Uncovered by Social Media
In November 2022, Natalie Twomey informed her managers at the London Ambulance Service (LAS) that she needed sick leave because her sister's health had "deteriorated again" and she had to drive to Norfolk to be with her. However, this story was false.
The misconduct panel heard that photographs shared on her sister's Facebook account during that same period showed her at home, actively putting up Christmas decorations. This evidence directly contradicted Twomey's claim that her sister was in intensive care.
When confronted in a meeting in April 2023, Twomey attempted to explain the posts away, suggesting her sister's husband had made them while his wife was hospitalised. The panel rejected this explanation, finding the social media activity was "incompatible" with her original claims to her employer.
A Pattern of Dishonest Conduct
This incident was not an isolated one in Twomey's professional conduct. The tribunal heard she was removed from frontline ambulance duties in June 2023 after arriving at work smelling of alcohol.
She tried to blame the smell on a vomiting patient, but a colleague paramedic did not support this account, stating they could not recall a patient being covered in alcohol or vomit.
After being restricted to non-patient duties, Twomey then lied on her registration renewal forms, stating there had been no changes to her character. She also attempted to secure a secondment away from logistics work by citing a knee and back injury as the reason for her altered duties.
Struck Off for 'Serious and Persistent' Behaviour
Further dishonesty followed when Twomey sought new employment. She falsely told a potential employer that she had not been dismissed from LAS and was not under investigation for her fitness to practise.
In a separate criminal matter, Twomey was convicted of drink driving in April 2024 while on duty as a custody medic at a police station.
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) panel considered all the proven allegations, which included dishonesty and the criminal conviction. They concluded that a striking off order was the only appropriate sanction to protect the public.
"The Registrant’s behaviour was serious, persistent and deliberate. It involved dishonesty, and a criminal conviction that had an impact on the Registrant’s fitness to practise," the panel stated. "The Registrant lacks insight into her dishonesty... The Panel was of the view that any lesser sanction would be insufficient to protect the public."
