A nurse has been accused of going on a $7,000 spending spree using a bank card allegedly stolen from a patient at a Gold Coast hospital. Melelani Crelley, 42, faced charges of theft and fraud after reportedly making multiple transactions with the stolen card between March and May of this year.
Crelley appeared briefly in the Southport Magistrates Court, where her lawyer requested an adjournment for her case. She did not enter a plea and was granted bail, leaving the courthouse silently alongside her partner and solicitor.
Queensland Health confirmed that Crelley was employed as a nurse at Robina Hospital and is currently absent from her position while the investigation is ongoing. A spokesperson for Gold Coast Health stated that they are cooperating with police in the matter, emphasizing the importance of ensuring patients and the community feel safe in hospital care.
Despite the allegations, Crelley’s nursing registration remains active with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), and no conditions have been placed on her practice. She is scheduled to return to court next month.