Care home nurse struck off after lying about fall

AN ABERDEEN nurse has been struck off after lying to colleagues and a health watchdog about a care home resident’s back injury. Deepa Francis was on duty at the Tor-na-dee care home when a patient fell.

The 27-year-old nurse did not assess the resident’s condition or complete the paperwork needed after a fall.

The Care Commission and Southern Cross Healthcare, which owns the home, launched an investigation, but Ms Francis denied the patient had fallen.

Now a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) panel has found Ms Francis was “consistently untruthful” and a striking-off order was “the only appropriate response”.

At a conduct and competence committee hearing held earlier this week, Ms Francis admitted she failed to assess the patient’s injuries after the fall at the North Deeside Road home on October 30, 2008.

The nurse did not tell the resident’s family or the manager of the home, Maureen Barrett, about the incident and did not complete the documentation required after a patient has been hurt.

The resident complained of back pain, but this was also kept from colleagues. Later that year, Ms Francis told both Ms Barrett and a Care Commission officer that the patient did not fall, and asked colleagues to back her up.

In its decision, the NMC panel said: “There can be no doubt that these matters amount to misconduct and no doubt the registrant has behaved dishonestly.

“In the panel’s view the need to protect patients’ safety and to uphold public confidence in the profession makes this a case where a striking off order is the only appropriate response.”

Ms Francis now has less than a month to appeal against the decision.

A spokesman for Southern Cross said Ms Francis was sacked after the investigation and referred to the NMC.

He said: “The health and well-being of residents is always our number one priority and we are concerned by this regrettable incident.”

A spokesman for the Care Commission said: “Our main consideration is the care, dignity and well-being of people who use care services.”

Ms Francis could not be contacted for comment last night.