Weekly news review for 29 November to 5 December

Date:06/12/2010

A round-up of news and fitness to practise hearings from last week

The Patients Assocation launches Helpline appeal

A fundraising drive has been launched by The Patients Association to raise money for its Helpline in order to deliver a more active support service.

They have also published Listen to patients, Speak up for change, a collection of seventeen direct accounts of hospital care from the eyes of older patients. Their stories highlight serious failings in nursing standards, communication issues and an ineffective complaints system.

Dickon Weir-Hughes, NMC Chief Executive and Registrar, said he was "deeply saddened by these examples of appalling standards of care". Drawing attention to the guidance published on caring for older people, raising and escalating concerns and the safeguarding adults campaign, Weir-Hughes expressed concern that none of the nurses in the stories appear to have been reported, and urged "any individual who has experienced or witnessed poor nursing or midwifery care standards to contact us so we can investigate".

Council to meet on December 9

The next meeting of the Council will include reports on the Midwifery Rules, Welsh Language Scheme and the regulation of healthcare support workers.

You can read the full agenda on our Council meeting dates and papers page.

Caution order for verbally abusive psychiatric nurse

Last week John Quinn received a two year caution order for verbally abusing a patient, in a case which has been subsequently been reported in local press.

A caution order was deemed proportionate given the registrant’s early admission of the facts, his insight into his failings and genuine expressions of regret and apology. Additionally, the registrant had a previous good history and there is no evidence of any repetition of his behaviour since.

Fitness to Practise news

The Council heard 18 cases last week, issuing:

2 interim suspension orders for 18 months
1 Conditions of practice order for 12 months and interim conditions of practice order for 18 months
1 Conditions of practice order for 6 months and interim conditions of practice order for 18 months

2 Caution orders:

Kirsty Nattriss received a five year caution order for undertaking paid work at Thornbury Nursing Services while on sick leave from her employer Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust.
Stephen Bushell received a five year caution order for undertaking paid work at Pathfinder’s Neurological Care Centre while on sick leave from Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

2 Striking off orders:

Francis Burke received a striking off order following a review of a prior suspension order.
Alison Brunt received a striking off order following a review of a prior suspension order.

More information and full reasons can be found on the hearings and outcomes table for each month.