Drunk Nurse Struck Off, UK

Main Category: Medical Malpractice / Litigation
Also Included In: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 20 May 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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A 29 year old nurse from Hampshire who was under the influence of alcohol while on duty has been struck off the register by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC).

Sarah Ford was employed as a registered nurse at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust and admitted having 'a couple of drinks' while at work on 20 September 2003. The Independent Conduct and Competence Committee panel heard evidence from four nurses and a support worker that Ford:

- cried while lying on an occupied patient's bed
- displayed a high and unprofessional degree of familiarity to her manager
- exhibited excitable, aggressive and tearful behaviour in her conversations with colleagues in a patient area
- transferred a patient who was not in her care between the ward and the smoking room in an erratic and potentially dangerous manner
- failed to leave the hospital when requested to do so

Based on her behaviour, slurred speech, glazed eyes and smell of alcohol, the witnesses formed the opinion that Ford was drunk.

The independent panel deemed the charges to be very serious and believed that Ford aggravated the situation by refusing to leave and insisting on having patient contact despite becoming increasingly inebriated. Ford, who did not attend the hearing and has not worked as a nurse since November 2003, clearly breached the profession's Code of conduct and the panel found her to be guilty of misconduct.

Commenting on the outcome of the hearing, NMC spokesperson Kristy Hempel said:

"Ford's actions were a serious departure from the NMC Code and the standards expected of someone in a caring profession. Despite her good work history prior to the event, this was a deliberate act and Ford has shown no insight or apologised for her behaviour. Her actions had the potential to cause direct or indirect patient harm and the independent panel were convinced a striking off order was necessary for the protection of the public and to uphold public confidence in the nursing profession."

The Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) is the UK regulator for two professions, nursing and midwifery. The primary purpose of the NMC is protection of the public. It does this through maintaining a register of all nurses, midwives and specialist community public health nurses eligible to practice within the UK and by setting standards for their education, training and conduct. Currently the number of registrants exceeds 674,000. The Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 (The Order), sets out the NMC's role and responsibilities.

Nursing & Midwifery Council