A&E work 'drove' nurse to alcohol

The case was heard at Perth Sheriff Court

A nurse who got behind the wheel of a car while almost three times the drink-drive limit said the stress of working at accident and emergency was to blame.

Perth Sheriff Court was told Joyce McKay, 51, from Luncarty, had turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism after working at Perth Royal Infirmary.

She was on leave when she crashed into a parked car in Luncarty after drinking on 15 September this year.

She was given a 16-month driving ban and fined £300.

The court heard the owner of the car called police after smelling alcohol on McKay's breath while exchanging insurance details.

Fiscal depute John Malpass told the court: "At 7.05pm the accused was driving when she was involved in a minor collision with a parked vehicle.

"She exchanged particulars with the owner of the vehicle, but the owner thought she was under the influence of alcohol and contacted the police."

Mr Malpass said McKay gave a positive breath test at police HQ and because of the high alcohol level she was kept in custody overnight.

Solicitor Mark Alder, defending, said: "She is employed as a staff nurse in accident and emergency.

"She has been a nurse for 33 years. She had been having a considerable amount of stress at work and was signed off for three months.

"There was a particular incident which was stressful for her. She got counselling in the workplace. She also turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism."

Mr Alder said his client had since returned to work and had referred herself for alcohol counselling.