Ghanaian Nurse in UK Caught Forging References

England -- A NURSE who received a police caution for common assault was struck off on Tuesday last week after receiving another caution for forging references to open a care home for the mentally ill in Pinner.

Faustina Catherine Ago Tetteh, 49, from Kilburn, who did not attend the hearing and was not represented, had worked at hospitals in east London, Hampstead, and Bath and for a doctor in Harley Street.


She was applying, under the name of Tina Angel, to register a home for three people she had bought in Pinner Road, and hoped to become proprietor and manager. But she provided two references to the Hillingdon Registration Inspection Agency, which she had written and signed herself in the summer of 2001.


Tetteh, who came to the UK in 1977 from Ghana, was struck off after being found guilty of misconduct by the Nursing and Midwifey Council's professional conduct committee for attempting to obtain a pecuniary advantage by deception.


Helen Kitchen, for the council, said information about the authenticity of the references came to light during an interview, and she told the committee: " The authority had concerns about the authorship of the references and sought advice from the police in October 2001."


Tetteh was arrested on October 10, 2001, and bailed until the following January, when she was interviewed again and admitted filling in and signing two references. She claimed both referees had agreed to write references but were away.

Team manager for the inspection agency, Jane Davidson said: "Right from the begining there was a feeling of disquiet. Ms Angel asked to see my colleague outside the unit and she bought her some perfume.


"We sent Ms Angel a letter saying this was not appropriate and it couldn't be accepted. At the interview she didn't understand the term ‘diagnosis’."


Acting Detective Sergeant Terrence Stroud told the committee: "She admitted that she had forged the signatures in the hope of gaining a residential care home licence and she was cautioned."


The committee also heard how Tetteh had a previous a police caution for common assault relating to an incident with her neighbour, who was also cautioned for the same offence.


Committee chairman Valerie Morrison said: "The public has the right to be protected."