£185k Pension Fraud: Nurse Shaved Head Daily

Amanda Reid, a children's nurse, has been removed from the nursing register after a prolonged fraud spanning over three years. She deceived her family, children, and healthcare professionals into believing she had terminal leukaemia, a claim she knew to be false. Reid went to extreme lengths, including daily head shaving and using weight loss medication to simulate illness.

To support her false claims, Reid forged 16 medical letters, some bearing the logo of Spire Hospital Edinburgh, and fraudulently obtained controlled drugs from the NHS. She pleaded guilty in September 2025 to defrauding the Scottish Pensions Authority of £185,442.95 between April 13, 2021, and August 31, 2024.

Reid was subsequently jailed for two years at Livingston Sheriff Court. During her sentencing, it was mentioned that some of the stolen funds were used for a trip to Dubai. While Reid claimed to suffer from Munchausen's syndrome, a social worker's report could not independently verify this diagnosis.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council panel, noting the sustained and deliberate nature of the criminal fraud and financial gain, found no evidence of insight or remorse. They concluded that Reid's repeated dishonest behaviour over three years demonstrated deep-seated attitudinal issues, raising concerns about patient safety should such conduct occur in a clinical setting.