Care home nurse puts patients in danger
2016 and August 2016 and warranted an investigation by the Nursing and Midfwifery Council.
It’s understood Clarke was dismissed from the care home, which is situated just a stone’s throw away from the prestigious Royal Troon Golf Club.
Originally, the Nursing and Midwifery Council imposed an 18- month Conditions of Practice order, which would have allowed Clarke to maintain her employment in the care sector- but under a strict set of guidelines.
However, at a Fitness to Practise Committee’s Substantive Order Review Hearing, in Edinburgh, they rubber stamped a suspension order, which came into force last week.
A report presented at the hearing said: “The Registrant ( Clarke) accepts that her omissions in respect of Residents A and B put both patients at unwarranted risk of harm.
“This is contrary to a fundamental tenet of the nursing profession: the requirement to make the care and safety of patients a primary concern.
“In failing to do so, the Registrant has also brought the reputation of the nursing profession into disrepute.
“Whilst the Registrant’s failings are considered to be easily remediable, the Registrant has not worked as a registered nurse since being dismissed from the Home, and as such she has not yet had the opportunity to remedy her misconduct.
“As a result, the parties agree that until the Registrant can demonstrate that her failings as they relate to record keeping, care plans and the assessment of patients have been fully remediated, a risk of repetition exists. A finding of impairment is therefore required in order to adequately protect the public.”
Clarke was not present and there had been “no response” from her in relation to the proceedings.
The report concluded: “The panel determined that a suspension order could protect the public and satisfy the wider public interest in Mrs Clarke’s case.
“Accordingly, the panel determined to impose a suspension order for the period of six months. This would allow Mrs Clarke the opportunity to re- engage with the hearing process whilst suitably addressing public protection concerns identified and the wider public interest.
“It considered this to be the most appropriate and proportionate sanction available.
“The panel determined that a strikingoff order is disproportionate and inappropriate in Mrs Clarke’s case, as the concerns raised were not fundamentally incompatible with Mrs Clarke remaining on the register, should she re- engage with her regulator.”