Laughing gas binge hospital worker could be struck off over drink-driving conviction
A HOSPITAL worker found unconscious following a two-day binge on laughing gas in an operating theatre is set to face a final hearing for drink-driving.
Daniel Jason Warner, 35, was caught taking nitrous oxide at Castle Hill Hospital in 2008.
He vowed to abstain from drugs and alcohol at a hearing in November 2010.
But just a month later he was caught driving when he was more than three times over the legal limit.
Warner, of west Hull, will now face a final Health Professions Council hearing on Tuesday following the drink-driving conviction and could be struck off.
The allegations state: "By reason of this conviction your fitness to practise as an operating department practitioner is impaired."
Warner was banned from driving for two years at Hull Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to drink-driving on Boxing Day in 2010.
He was three times over the limit when he drove his Mitsubishi Space Star in Spring Bank West, west Hull.
Warner had 114 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 mg.
He was given a community order, 120 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £85 court costs.
Warner was working as an on-call operating department practitioner when he was found unconscious after abusing nitrous oxide in 2008.
He was sacked by Hull And East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, and suspended from working as an operating department practitioner by the Health Professionals' Council for 12 months.
His ban was revoked in November 2010 after the council's panel warned he was on the brink of being struck off and asked him to show evidence of his "continued abstinence from drug and alcohol abuse".
In a previous report, the council said: "The panel notes that you have taken steps to address your drug misuse and that you have coped with recent stresses without resorting to drugs or alcohol.
"The panel considered that you are at the threshold of striking off, but that it would not be appropriate to do so in light of the efforts that you have made to address your problems."
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by hulcules
Sunday, February 05 2012, 11:25AM
“He didn't care when he stole laughing gas from the NHS in 2008.
It wasn't nice when the NHS had to cancel operations because he overdosed in a theatre
So don't be harsh on people who people whose family and friends have been killed and maimed by drunk drivers?
Your right. He has done wrong.”
by poncho69
Friday, February 03 2012, 9:55PM
“can i just add , this person in question is a caring and very nice person, yes what he has done is wrong but some times in life some thing happens that pushes us all over the edge, dont be so harsh on other peoples business when you know nothing of the situation !!!!!!!!!!!!”
by embittered
Friday, February 03 2012, 8:12PM
“So lets get this right!...He's been struck off for having a laugh at work?...The miserable gits.”
by audemars
Friday, February 03 2012, 7:23PM
“He is struck off and yet an anaesthetist (Dr) gets a caution for sexual touching and retains his job? Mr Warner has certainly been stupid but the rules should be applied equally”
by GetRealPlease
Friday, February 03 2012, 3:06PM
“Imagine_that; thanks for the info. Yes I was referring to "My Child the Rioter" and yes I was shocked as well. The parent's reactions were not what I was expecting at all. Have a good weekend.”
by Deimos_Hull
Friday, February 03 2012, 2:58PM
“This is no laughing matter.”
by Mickey_Luv
Friday, February 03 2012, 2:51PM
“@Eeebahgum
Your lucky, they didnt even put me under when I had mine, just a local anaesthetic and I felt every tug... urgh!
Wasnt a Dr Etherington who did it was it? He seemed quite jovial about it all”
by Imagine_that
Friday, February 03 2012, 2:49PM
“Oh and if you mean "My Child the Rioter" (or similar) it was quite shocking how relaxed all but one of the parents were about their kids, but then who would actually volunteer to go on that programme?”
by Imagine_that
Friday, February 03 2012, 2:47PM
“GetRealPlease
"What do people that are given Community Service orders actually end up doing, does anyone know?"
Some of them work in East Park and I saw some picking litter along the side of the Hornsea cycle track.
There is a number that you can ring if you have suggestions for work that they can do, but my friend rang and left her contact number and no one got back to her.
I don't know how hard they work but the probation service and courts come down very hard on them if they miss a session.”
by GetRealPlease
Friday, February 03 2012, 2:03PM
“What do people that are given Community Service orders actually end up doing, does anyone know?
I watched the programme on the BBC about those convicted during the 2011 riots. One lad got a Community Service order and ended up working in a charity shop for a few weeks. That sounds a bit soft to me. I say get them out on the street doing something that's in the public's everyday interest, pick some litter up or something.....or sorry I forgot, Health and Safety :-(”