UK nurse Rebecca Louise Burwood, deputy manager at Welsh care home, struck off after taking nearly £400,000 from 99-year-old resident; money allegedly spent on cosmetic surgery, car and motorhome

A nurse in the UK has been struck off the nursing register after a tribunal found that she abused her position of trust to take hundreds of thousands of pounds from a vulnerable 99-year-old woman, with some of the money allegedly spent on personal expenses, including cosmetic surgery, a car and a motorhome.According to a report by the BBC, Rebecca Louise Burwood, who was deputy manager at Bryn Yr Haul Care Home in Mold, Wales, had a longstanding relationship with the woman, identified during the proceedings as Resident A. The elderly woman had no family members and relied on Burwood for companionship after suffering a fall, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) tribunal heard.Nurse became woman's lasting power of attorneyThe tribunal heard that Burwood became Resident A’s lasting power of attorney, a legal arrangement that allows an appointed person to help make decisions on someone’s behalf. However, she continued to oversee the woman’s care without disclosing this position to her employer.The panel found that Burwood abused her position of trust and power. Evidence presented at the hearing showed that more than £370,000 was withdrawn from Resident A’s bank account over five years. The woman also transferred ownership of her house, valued at approximately £400,000, to Burwood.While some of the money was reportedly used for home improvements and bill payments, allegations were also presented that funds went towards Burwood’s personal cosmetic surgery.Money spent on a car and motorhomeAs reported by the BBC, the hearing was told that Burwood persuaded Resident A to spend more than £20,000 on a car and £9,000 on a motorhome. Burwood claimed the motorhome was purchased so that the two could go on day trips together.Defending the transactions, Burwood said Resident A had asked her to withdraw money because she wanted to make regular charitable donations of between £250 and £500 a week. Her lawyer, Victoria Rees, also argued that the woman had expressed a wish not to leave any money behind when she died.However, the woman’s bank raised concerns about the spending and froze her account. Burwood subsequently took Resident A to the branch to have the restriction lifted.Bank staff reportedly said Burwood was “almost blackmailing” the elderly woman and pressuring her to request that access to the account be restored.Safeguarding concerns led to investigationThe bank reported the incident to North Wales Police in 2023. However, no further action was taken at the time because Resident A did not want to pursue the matter.Flintshire County Council referred the case to the NMC in June 2023. Safeguarding staff later heard that Resident A was shocked by how much of her money had been spent.Other nurses also reported hearing conversations in which Burwood allegedly instructed the woman to “sign here” and said she would “give her the money back”. Burwood responded that she had asked Resident A to sign a condolence card.Resident A has since died.Tribunal finds serious misconductThe NMC tribunal concluded that Burwood had “engaged in a sustained, calculated course of conduct” and that her actions amounted to “serious misconduct”.Following the findings, Burwood was struck off the nursing register, meaning she can no longer legally practise as a nurse in the UK.Speaking to the BBC, James Bradford, operations director at Bryn Yr Haul Care Home, said the organisation supported the regulator’s decision.“We fully support the NMC's decision and, since these events, there have been changes in management, and our safeguarding policies and procedures have been reviewed to ensure the continued safety and wellbeing of everyone in our care,” he said.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.