A UK paramedic has been removed from the professional register after a tribunal found she deliberately fabricated a family medical emergency to obtain a day off work, with the deception later uncovered through social media posts. The case of Natalie Twomey, formerly employed by the London Ambulance Service (LAS), was examined in detail by the Health and Care Professions Tribunal, which concluded that her conduct demonstrated dishonesty, a lack of integrity, and repeated efforts to mislead employers and regulators.
The decision to strike her off followed a pattern of false statements, misleading claims, and professional misconduct extending well beyond the initial incident that brought her actions to light. The tribunal’s findings outline a sequence of events beginning with an email sent in November 2022, in which Natalie Twomey claimed her sister’s health had “deteriorated again” and that she needed to drive to Norfolk to be with her.
That account was later contradicted by photographs posted on her sister’s Facebook page the same day, showing a home decorated for Christmas. The panel concluded that the explanation offered by Ms Twomey was knowingly false and intended to excuse her absence from work. Subsequent investigations revealed further instances of dishonesty, including misleading statements to her employer, failure to disclose restrictions on her professional practice, and inaccurate representations during job applications and regulatory processes.
Fabricated Illness and the Role of Social Media Evidence
The tribunal heard that on 28 November 2022, Natalie Twomey emailed her LAS managers stating that she had phoned in sick because her sister’s condition had worsened and that she needed to travel to Norfolk to be with her. At face value, the message suggested a serious and urgent family health crisis. However, LAS staff later discovered that on the same date, Ms Twomey’s sister had posted photographs on her Facebook account showing her home decorated for Christmas.
The panel considered these images significant. In its written judgment, it stated that the photographs conveyed a message inconsistent with the claim that the sister was so seriously ill that Natalie Twomey needed to miss work and travel to provide support. The tribunal found that Ms Twomey knew her sister was not unwell on that date and that the email was sent deliberately to mislead her employer for personal benefit.
When questioned about the Facebook posts during a capability meeting in April 2023, Natalie Twomey attempted to explain the discrepancy by claiming her sister was in an intensive therapy unit and that her sister’s husband had been responsible for posting on her wife’s Facebook account. The panel rejected this explanation, concluding that it was not credible and that Ms Twomey was aware the posts undermined her account. The tribunal described her actions as a “lie” told to mislead her employer, characterising the behaviour as deceit carried out for personal gain.
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The case highlighted the increasing role of social media evidence in employment and regulatory investigations. The panel did not suggest that the presence of festive decorations alone proved dishonesty, but rather that, when viewed alongside Ms Twomey’s claims and subsequent explanations, the posts formed part of a broader picture demonstrating deliberate misrepresentation.
Wider Pattern of Dishonesty and Professional Misconduct
The fabricated family illness was not the only issue examined by the tribunal. Evidence presented showed a pattern of misleading behaviour across multiple professional contexts. In June 2023, Natalie Twomey was removed from front-line duties after attending work while smelling of alcohol. Although this incident did not in itself lead to immediate removal from the register, it resulted in restrictions being placed on her practice.
The panel heard that when Ms Twomey later renewed her registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), she failed to disclose that such restrictions had been imposed. The tribunal found that this omission was deliberate and misleading. In a separate incident, Ms Twomey contacted the LAS recruitment department to discuss a potential secondment and claimed that her non-patient-facing duties were the result of a back and knee injury, rather than disciplinary or capability concerns. This statement was also found to be false.
Further scrutiny revealed that Ms Twomey had provided inaccurate information regarding her working hours during 2023. Collectively, these actions were viewed by the panel as evidence of an ongoing willingness to misrepresent facts when it suited her interests. The tribunal noted that honesty and transparency are fundamental requirements for healthcare professionals, particularly those working in emergency services where public trust is paramount.
Ms Twomey was dismissed from the London Ambulance Service at the end of 2023 due to what her employer described as “capability and failure to attend work regularly.” Following her dismissal, she applied for other roles. During a subsequent job interview, she claimed she had never been subject to any disciplinary hearings and had never been dismissed from a previous position. The panel found that these statements were untrue and that she made them despite knowing she had been dismissed and had faced disciplinary action.
She also stated during the interview process that there were no outstanding investigations against her, even though she was aware that an HCPC fitness-to-practise investigation was ongoing at the time. The tribunal considered this further evidence of dishonesty, extending beyond her relationship with a single employer and into interactions with prospective employers and professional regulators.
Alcohol-Related Incident and Tribunal’s Decision to Strike Off
In April 2024, while undertaking duties as a paramedic at a police investigation centre, Ms Twomey attracted the attention of a police officer who reported smelling alcohol on her breath. She had arrived at the site by car and was required to provide a breath test. The test led to her arrest, and she was later cautioned. Ms Twomey subsequently pleaded guilty at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court to driving a motor vehicle over the prescribed alcohol limit.
She was convicted in April 2024. The tribunal took this conviction into account as part of its assessment of her fitness to practise, noting that it raised serious concerns about judgment, safety, and professionalism. In its final determination, the panel concluded that Ms Twomey’s conduct was “sufficiently serious to amount to misconduct.” It emphasised that the case was not based on a single lapse in judgment but on a sustained pattern of dishonesty, misleading statements, and failure to take responsibility for her actions.
The tribunal stated that her behaviour undermined public confidence in the profession and breached the fundamental standards expected of a registered paramedic. The panel considered whether a lesser sanction, such as suspension or conditions of practice, would be appropriate. However, it concluded that these measures would not adequately address the seriousness of the misconduct or protect the public. The tribunal found that Ms Twomey had demonstrated limited insight into her actions and that there was a significant risk of repetition.
As a result, the panel imposed a Striking Off Order, removing Ms Twomey’s name from the HCPC register. In its written judgment, the tribunal stated that this sanction was appropriate and proportionate given the cumulative nature of the misconduct and the importance of maintaining trust in healthcare professionals. The case underscores the high standards of honesty and integrity required of those working in emergency medical services and the serious consequences that can follow when those standards are breached.
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