Nurse struck off for faking leukaemia in £185K pension fraud

A children's nurse has been struck off the professional register after being convicted of defrauding the Scottish Pensions Authority of more than £185,000 by faking a terminal leukaemia diagnosis. Amanda Reid was removed from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register following a tribunal that found her dishonesty was "sustained, deliberate, premeditated" and involved "criminal fraud and financial gain." Reid pleaded guilty in September 2025 to defrauding the government agency of £185,442.95 between April 13, 2021, and August 31, 2024. She was subsequently jailed for two years at Livingston Sheriff Court. The NMC tribunal, chaired by John Millar, heard that Reid convinced her family, children, and professionals she was "at the point of death" despite knowing she was not ill. To maintain the deception, Reid shaved her head daily and took weight loss medication to simulate symptoms of leukaemia. She also forged 16 medical letters, which included logos from Spire Hospital Edinburgh, to persuade her GP practice she was seriously ill. The tribunal further noted that Reid fraudulently acquired controlled drugs from the NHS during her offending period.