Carer, 38, who 'stole morphine from elderly patients' is struck off after pleading guilty to 'particularly mean offences'

By LIZ HULL, NORTHERN CORRESPONDENT and GLYN BELLIS Published: 10:54, 5 July 2026 | Updated: 10:54, 5 July 2026 The former deputy manager of a care home who stole prescription painkillers meant for vulnerable dementia sufferers has been struck off. Patsy Swift, 38, pinched the medication from Hillbury Care Home, in Wrexham, North Wales, over a two month period last year. She narrowly escaped jail for what a judge called the 'particularly mean offences,' in March, after admitting theft of a variety of painkillers, sleeping pills and other medications, including Pizotifen, Omeprazole, Naproxen, Zopiclone and Temazepam.  The home, which has around 60 beds, looks after elderly patients with dementia.  A source previoulsy told the Daily Mail that relatives were particularly upset that their vulnerable loved ones were potentially left in pain because of her actions. Swift also pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation, relating to the request and collection of Oramorph – a brand name of the strong painkiller, morphine. Today it emerged that, following a Social Care Wales fitness to practise panel ruling, she had been struck off the caring register. Swift, 38, admitted theft but escaped jail after a judge heard she was the sole carer for her two children Hillbury Care home, in Wrexham, where Swift previously worked. The home caters for around 60 patients with dementia Magistrates in Wrexham were told that a GP raised the alarm in 2024 after becoming concerned that prescribed medication was going missing at the home. Prosecutor Diane Williams said police conducted a review but the case was closed and it wasn't until the family doctor, Dr Adam Khalifa, spoke to managers again five months later that they realised the majority of the drugs were being collected by Swift and she fell under suspicion. On one occasion the single mother requested morphine for a resident twice after claiming the first batch 'smelled off.' The second request was refused. Then, in February 2025, Dr Khalifa raised concerns after the home claimed they had run out of morphine for a female resident who had missed two doses. Swift was captured on CCTV collecting the woman's prescription, and, when the  home's register of controlled drugs was checked, discrepancies were discovered. Swift, on Penycae, Wrexham, was arrested and immediately suspended. When confronted by the Daily Mail at the time, she claimed she had done nothing wrong. A source said: 'A GP's receptionist actually noticed an increase in the number of claims for extra medication and lost prescriptions from this care home, and that the practice was also getting repeat reports that the local pharmacy was failing to deliver morphine to them. 'When it was queried with management the records and stocks at the home were checked and did not match.' Laura Macmillan, defending, Swift, said she had shown 'genuine remorse.'  'She's unlikely to be ever back before the court,' the lawyer said. 'She will be unable to ever work with vulnerable adults again due to this conviction.' Swift, a single mother-of-two, was now living on benefits, Ms Macmillan added. Deputy District Judge Lee Davies imposed a 24 weeks jail term, suspended for a year, with rehabilitation days and 12 months mental health treatment. He told Swift he had only spared her jail because she was the main carer of her children. 'If you didn't have them, you would be going to prison today,' he said. 'These are particularly mean offences, the real mischief not being the financial loss, the real harm is that caused to patients deprived of their medication.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.