Nurse Struck Off For Incompetent Practise, UK

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Also Included In: Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Article Date: 13 Jul 2008 - 6:00 PST

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A 51 year old adult nurse from East Ham, London has been struck off the register following a hearing by the Nursing and Midwifery (NMC's) independent Conduct and Competence Committee panel.

Philomena David was employed as an E grade practise nurse at Plasnet Road Medical Centre, Maidstone between January 2005 and August 2005 when a string of incidents occurred where she failed to demonstrate the standard of knowledge, skill and judgement required to practise without supervision.

The independent panel heard evidence of how David incorrectly gave an MMR vaccine (which should not be given before a child reaches one year old) to a 27-week-old baby and also appeared to use the needle as a dart, resulting in misconduct. She further failed to demonstrate the appropriate standard of knowledge and skill in the following areas -

- Infection Control
- Ear Care
- Diabetes Management
- Health Promotion

David also admitted to making offensive and inappropriate comments about mental health patients to colleague Jacqui Liddle saying words to the effect that she could not "get down to their level".

Commenting on the panel's decision to issue a striking off order, NMC spokesperson Sarah Connolly, said: "There was a serious departure from the relevant standards as set out in the Code of Practise. Patients were placed at serious risk by the Registrant's lack of nursing skills and poor practise. The public would be at further risk if the Registrant were allowed to return to practise. Therefore the panel considers that confidence in the NMC would be undermined if the Registrant were not removed from the register."

The Nursing and 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 practise 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 and Midwifery Council