Hamilton healthcare employee charged with theft and breach of trust

A St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton employee is facing criminal charges after an investigation into discrepancies with the hospital's medication dispensing system.

Jenna Whitfield, 35, of Hagersville is charged with theft under $5,000 and criminal breach of trust.

Hamilton police said the investigation began Dec. 10 when hospital staff contacted police. A quality control audit at the hospital alerted staff to a discrepancy in its automatic dispensary system.

The police investigation found the system had been accessed multiple times between Aug. 17 and Dec. 9, 2021, without a doctor's written order, police said.

Whitfield has been released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 24.

Nicole O'Reilly is a crime and justice reporter at The Spectator. noreilly@thespec.com