Nurse whose poor English puts patients at risk can still work for NHS
A NURSE whose English is so poor it puts patients at risk has been told she can still work in the UK.
Romanian-born Rodica Olteanu was unable to communicate properly with a 999 operator during an emergency at a private care home, a misconduct hearing was told.
She was asked to take a language test paid for by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) but failed to attend and went on to work at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust in Stoke. The NMC raised concerns with the hospital where an internal assessment found that the 34- year- old had the English and maths skills expected of a child aged nine to 11.
Olteanu no longer works there but the NMC hearing decided not to suspend her registration. Panel chairman David Newman said it was ‘more than likely’ her poor grasp of English ‘could place the public at risk of harm’.
In a judgement published yesterday he said: ‘In the panel’s view, a registered nurse should be able to demonstrate more than a basic command of the language in order to practise safely and effectively.’
He said the public would ‘remain at risk of harm’ if Olteanu were to return to nursing in the UK, but suspending her registration would be ‘disproportionate’.
Instead he issued a conditions of practice order, meaning that if she works in Britain she must do so under supervision until she
‘Remain at risk of harm’
passes a recognised English language test. Olteanu did not attend the hearing.
During the 999 emergency at the private Ty Gwynno nursing home in Pontypridd, South Wales, in March last year Olteanu was unable to answer basic questions about the condition of a patient, the NMC hearing was told.
Care workers with no medical qualifications took over the emergency call and the patient was successfully treated at hospital.
Olteanu was then asked to undertake an International English Language Testing System course but did not attend. She later took up the post in Stoke where she was allowed to work as long as she was supervised by nurses who could speak English.
The NMC hearing was told that following the internal assessment Olteanu was removed from ward duties. A spokesman for the trust said it has strict rules to ensure clinical staff are able to communicate effectively.