Nottingham Nurse Cautioned For Failing To Care Properly For An Injured Patient, UK

Main Category: Medical Malpractice / Litigation
Also Included In: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 11 Aug 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Dudu Bhembe, a nurse from Nottingham, has been cautioned after failing to give appropriate care to one of her patients.

A Panel of the Nursing and Midwifery Council's Conduct and Competence Committee, found that Ms Bhembe, 49, a nurse at Rutland Manor Nursing Home in Ilkeston, Derbyshire had failed to take appropriate action after a resident had fallen and injured his leg.

Ms Bhembe failed to arrange for the resident to be medically examined and did not contact the Home Manager or any other qualified professional for advice on what action to take.

The NMC requires all nurses to abide by the Code of Professional Conduct. The Panel found that Ms Bhembe had failed in this duty and that her fitness to practice is impaired. However, the Panel took into account that this was an isolated incident in a nursing career of over 22 years and that Ms Bhembe has apologised and accepted that she should have acted differently.

Ms Bhembe received a two-year caution, which will remain on her records and be reported to any future employer during this time.

Commenting on the panel's decision, Craig Turton, spokesman for the NMC said:

"It is important that the public trust in the nursing profession is maintained. Ms Bhembe's actions fell short of the type of high quality care demanded in the NMC's Code of Professional Conduct. This caution should ensure that any repeat of this kind of incident is avoided."

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 686,000. The Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 (The Order), sets out the NMC's role and responsibilities.

http://www.nmc-uk.org