Emma Sim, a 39-year-old nurse, is facing a misconduct tribunal that could see her struck off the nursing register after admitting to cocaine use and dealing while on duty at St John's Hospital in Livingston, West Lothian. Sim was suspended in July and has pleaded guilty to abusing cocaine while working on the ward and dealing the class A substance between 2023 and 2024.
Livingston Sheriff Court heard that Sim described her behavior as "embarrassed and disgusted." Sheriff Valerie Mays stated that Sim's actions were "culpable and reckless" and met the "threshold" for prison. However, the Sheriff opted not to impose a custodial sentence.
Instead, Sim received a 120-day jail sentence, to be served under electronic monitoring with a curfew. She was also handed an 18-month supervision order and 210 hours of unpaid community service. Sheriff Mays emphasized the need for Sim to "take steps" to ensure her cocaine addiction is "under control" and "does not resurface," requiring her to engage with substance abuse services.
The nurse, who worked as a mental health specialist, is now subject to a "fitness to practise" investigation by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). This investigation will determine if she will be barred from the profession permanently. The NMC has not yet issued a judgment on the matter.