Nottingham Nurse Struck Off For Drug Errors, UK

Main Category: Medical Malpractice / Litigation
Also Included In: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 31 Jan 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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A 56 year-old nurse from Old Baseford, Nottingham has been struck off the register after a string of drug failings stretching over three years.

An independent panel of the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) heard that Doreen McHale was working at Highbury Hospital between January 2001 and August 2003 when the incidents occurred.

The errors included failing to give medication to patients on six occasions, failing to properly record medicine McHale had administered and breaching Trust guidelines by delegating a task to a healthcare assistant without supervision.

After hearing all the evidence brought before them, the independent panel found McHale guilty of misconduct, stating that confidence in the NMC would be undermined if the nurse's name was not removed.

Stephanie Guyett, NMC spokesperson said,

"The panel found McHale had seriously breached the Code of Conduct in various respects. The Code charges McHale with always acting in a manner to promote and safeguard the interest and wellbeing of patients and clients, which she failed to do. The Code also states a nurse is personally accountable for her practice and is answerable for both actions and omissions. The administration of drugs is core to a nurse's role and any departure from the standards expected could be detrimental to the health of patients."

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 practise within the UK and by setting standards for their education, training and conduct. Currently the number of registrants exceeds 682,000. The Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 (The Order), sets out the NMC's role and responsibilities.

Nursing & Midwifery Council