A “NAUGHTY” nurse who filmed herself taking “yummy” stolen medicines and inhaling laughing gas while on duty has been struck-off.

Helen Smithson, who worked in A&E at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, also filmed a “semi-naked” nurse colleague sitting on a hospital bed, took temazepam and failed to report a stolen syringe of morphine.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council has now banned Miss Smithson, 52, from practising indefinitely.

During the investigation, she branded members of the panel “the witch finder general and her monkey”.

The panel was shown videos of her behaviour and a chain of online messages.

In one video she filmed herself taking the opiate oxycodone, describing the experience as “yummy – so naughty”.

In other videos she is pictured, along with a male junior colleague, taking laughing gas and making obscene gestures.

The panel also saw messages sent between the pair on social media.

The unnamed colleague sent Miss Smithson a picture of a syringe he claimed was filled with morphine.

She replied: “Hahahah how the Fook did you sneak that bad boy out… You are sooooo naughty…”

On another occasion the pair discussed how they had got hold of temazepam and entinox canisters and arranged to meet to “get high”.

The panel also saw messages between the pair, in which Miss Smithson suggested they should “meet and discuss strategy for if we are rumbled. We might get sacked you know”.

Miss Smithson left the hospital in August 2016.

The panel found the nurse guilty of all the charges.

She was found not fit to practise and was given a striking off order.

A report of the hearing states: “Significant failings particularly in respect of Miss Smithson’s abuse of position of trust, taking drugs for recreational use, and serious dishonesty made it quite incompatible for her to remain on the register.

“Dishonest conduct in a clinical setting was so serious that to allow Miss Smithson to continue practising as a nurse would undermine public confidence in the profession.”

The panel considered that Miss Smithson’s misconduct had the potential to place patients at significant risk of harm.

The panel determined that Miss Smithson’s misconduct was a significant departure from the standards expected of a registered nurse.

It said: “The misconduct related to patients who were particularly vulnerable as she worked in an emergency department.

“This was aggravated by the fact that there was sustained dishonesty.

“The panel was of the view that Miss Smithson’s misconduct demonstrated a potentially harmful deep-seated attitudinal problem arising from her dishonesty and lack of professionalism.”