Care home nurse is struck off

A NURSE, who worked at an Amman Valley care home, has been struck off — after claiming complaints made against him were due to a rejected social invite.

Bryan Augustus Joseph, who worked at Glangarnant Care Home, Garnant, had his case heard by the Nursing and Midwifery Council in Cardiff last week.

He was accused of failing to provide an “appropriate level of care” to “Resident A”, who had fallen while during a night shift on December 19 and 20, 2009. Joseph was the nurse in charge.

Joseph was said not to have checked the resident’s chest and face, did not attempt to talk to her while she was on the floor and instructed she be moved into a chair commode.

He failed to call an ambulance or GP, despite the concerns of care assistant Julie Richards and did not take or record adequate observations.

When instructed to attempt resuscitation of Resident A, he did not ensure that she was lying flat and did not ensure she was placed on the floor.

When paramedics arrived at 3am, Joseph was found not to be performing adequate CPR, performing shallow chest compressions, not giving rescue breaths and was using one hand.

The panel found that Resident A’s head was checked, and that there was no case to be answered in relation to Joseph’s attempts to talk to her, due to insufficient evidence. Other facts were all proven.

The panel heard that Joseph claimed the difference between his version and Ms Richards’s version of events, were due to his “rejection of a group social invitation”. The panel rejected the explanation and also noted that Joseph placed the resident “at unwarranted risk of harm”.

A striking-off order will be put in place of an 18-month suspension, if no appeal is lodged within 28 days.