Maypole Three Struck Off For Care Home Atrocities, UK

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Also Included In: Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Article Date: 20 Jun 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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Three registered nurses working at the Maypole Nursing Home have received a striking off order from the Nursing & Midwifery Council following a string of incidents in which they failed to ensure that patients received the appropriate standard of care.

Carol Bushell, 48, from West Heath, Birmingham, Kathleen Smith, 46, from Shirley, Solihull and Mary Casey, 70, from Harbourne, Birmingham were all found guilty of serious misconduct after a lengthy hearing before an NMC Independent Conduct and Competence Committee panel.

The independent panel heard that between 1st January 2001 and 31st March 2003, whilst employed as Manager at Maypole Nursing Home, Smith failed to adequately manage residents' continence, pressure sores, hygiene and personal care. The panel were especially shocked by the evidence of Ms Debbie Railton that scabies was "rife" in the home. The resulting lack of dignity experienced by patients under her care was all too apparent from the accounts heard from the Council's witnesses. The panel found further evidence of misconduct in Smith's failings to ensure that staff under her management were adequately trained or supervised.

The panel further heard how Bushell showed blatant disregard of a residents clearly stated soft food care plan by feeding her a mince pie, which tragically led to that resident's death. The panel were extremely concerned by the registrant's total lack of remorse for this act over the entire hearing process and complete discount of the serious shortcomings that were evident in her practice overall.

With regard to the charges against Casey, the panel made critical findings about her inappropriate handling of a sensitive situation involving two elderly and vulnerable residents and her failing to respect resident's comfort and dignity in continuing to get residents up unreasonably early.

Commenting on the panel's decision, NMC spokesperson Sarah Connolly said, "The actions of Smith, Casey and Bushell clearly fell below the standards expected of a registered nurse, as set out in the NMC's Code. Mrs. Casey has admitted a number of serious errors in relation to giving out medication, in addition further findings were made in relation to her poor nursing practices. Mrs. Bushell has been found guilty of a number of serious charges in relation to the wrongful provision of medication, inappropriate restraint and poor preparation of care plans. Mrs. Smith displayed serious failings in fundamental areas of clinical care which impacted on the welfare and dignity of residents in her care, as well as staggeringly defective record keeping and a woeful lack of skill in vital aspects of her management. Therefore it was wholly concluded by the independent panel that confidence in the Council would be seriously undermined if all three registrant's were not struck off."

Nursing and Midwifery Council

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