Care worker who locked up patients warned

A DUNDEE care worker who locked dementia patients in their rooms has been given a warning by a regulator.

Fiona Caithness faced a hearing from the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) over the allegations.

The watchdog found she carried out the acts while working as a care assistant at Pitkerro Care Centre, run by Hudson Healthcare, where she cared for people with advanced dementia.

A report from the hearing found that on at least one occasion between January and August 2021, Caithness locked multiple residents in their bedrooms for an unknown period of time.

She did it again on or around August 9 and 10 that year.

The SSSC said, by doing this, she exposed the residents involved to “unnecessary and serious risk of physical and emotional harm” and an increased risk of “emotional distress”.

It was also found she “failed to respect the residents’ dignity and individuality”.

The SSSC said she did not think of the possible consequences of her actions.

The report added: “There are public protection concerns that arise as a result of your conduct.

“Any repeat of such behaviour could place residents and the public at an increased risk of harm.

“For example, had there been a fire within the service during the time when residents were locked in their room, the consequences could have been extremely serious.”

The SSSC also said it came as part of “a pattern of concerning behaviour”.

Her actions were said to have been “a misguided attempt to ensure residents were not disturbed while they were sleeping”.

Caithness admitted her behaviour and was given a warning, which will stay on her record for two years. The report says she “expressed insight, regret and apology” for her actions.

ROTARY Club of Dundee members recently visited Dr Faisal Ghani and his Solariskit team at their production facility at Michelin PARC.

The visit was arranged after Dr Ghani gave a talk to the club on the world’s first flat-packable, self-assembled solar collector for heating water, designed and manufactured in Dundee.

Members were so impressed with Dr Ghani and his product that a donation of nearly £2,000 has been made to equip the Mulanje District Hospital

PASSENGERS on a Dundee bus were left “frightened” when two men and a woman were involved in a fight – forcing the driver to abandon the journey.

Several people watched as the trio were involved in the disturbance on the number one Xplore Dundee service in the city centre on Monday afternoon.

Those on board had to make their way off the bus before catching another service – but were joined by two of those involved in the fight.

Police say they are following positive lines of inquiry over the incident.

Euan Donegan, 60, was one of the passengers on the bus.

He said: “There were about a dozen of us on the bus and it was frightening what happened.

“Two men and a woman boarded before another man got on the bus near Dundee High School.

“The woman spotted this man and said something to in Malawi with a number of the water heaters, which will provide all hot water required.

Club president Andy Argo said: “The Solariskit heaters will make a big difference to health care at the Mulanje Hospital.

“We are delighted our support for this project will essentially involve providing a regular and efficient source of hot water – made in Dundee.”

The Solariskits will be shipped to Malawi this week.

From left: Peter Leyland, Frank Burke, Dr Ghani, Andy Argo and Paul Letley.