A woman in Wales has been convicted of fabricating qualifications and experience to secure a senior nursing job at an NHS hospital where sick babies were treated. Tanya Nasir, 45, falsely claimed to have served in the British Army and been shot, when she had actually volunteered with the cadets. She lied on her application form and created fraudulent certificates to obtain the position of ward manager at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, where she worked in a unit for premature babies.
After a trial at Cardiff Crown Court, Nasir was found guilty of nine charges including fraud and unauthorized access to computer material. She was sentenced to five years in prison by Judge Richard Kember at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court. The judge described her offending as consistent over a long period of time.
Nasir’s deception was uncovered during a routine revalidation of her credentials by her line manager at the hospital. An investigation revealed that she had also failed to disclose a conviction while studying at Buckinghamshire New University in 2010 and had fabricated documents to continue her studies. Her false claims extended to previous employment and qualifications from multiple universities, none of which were substantiated.
During her employment at the Princess of Wales Hospital, Nasir falsely portrayed herself as capable of managing crises based on fictitious experience. Her actions were deemed to have potentially catastrophic consequences by the director of midwifery and nursing at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.
Nasir’s fraudulent activities included providing false references and fabricating certificates. She earned over £200,000 in wages from two hospitals, with almost £95,000 coming from the Bridgend hospital alone. Despite claiming to have qualifications in nursing since 2010, it was confirmed that she did not qualify until 2014, and her other alleged qualifications could not be verified.
Further investigations revealed that Nasir had never served in the military, though she claimed to have been shot twice while deployed overseas. She also provided false information in job applications at other hospitals in London and Watford. Additionally, Nasir provided a fabricated reference for another individual seeking employment in the NHS.
Nasir’s deceitful actions have led to criminal charges, including fraud and using false instruments. She has been sentenced to five years in prison, with half of the sentence to be served in custody and the remainder on licence. Her case serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of dishonesty in professional settings.