NURSE NASTY
Fury as dementia carer rapped for abuse of OAPs
ADEMENTIA nurse who described an OAP as a “vile little man” has been told she can keep working in the caring profession.
An inquiry found Dorothy Price was verbally abusive to elderly residents and bullied staff while she was in charge of a care home on the outskirts of Glasgow.
A CHARITY has slammed nursing watchdogs after a dementia nurse who called an OAP a “vile little man” was told she can continue to work in the profession.
Dorothy Price also told an elderly woman who was crying for her late mother: “If you carry on like that you will see your mammy soon enough.”
Witnesses told an inquiry that her tone towards the pensioner was, “nasty and abrupt.”
The nurse has been sanctioned by the Nursing and Midwifery Council for a catalogue of abusive incidents involving five OAPs at a care home.
She also “regularly” deprived pensioners of dessert, giving out two courses instead of three.
The charity, Action on Elder Abuse, said it was “dismayed” that Ms Price had not been struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for her actions. She was given a six-month conditions of practice order, which allows her to continue working as a nurse.
Lesley Carcary of the charity, said: “What kind of message does this send to the public – mistreat vulnerable older people, and no disciplinary action will be taken?”
Six witnesses gave evidence to an inquiry about the nurse’s conduct while she was employed as Unit Manager on Beechwood Unit at Rodgerpark Care Home in Rutherglen.
One told how she, “regularly treat- ed residents impatiently and/or abruptly and snapped at them.’
She also admitted refusing to provide care for one OAP, stating that she “couldn’t handle him.”
The incidents happened between June 2014 and September 2015.
The nurse acknowledged that her comments had the potential to make residents “feel bad” and “very upset”.
However she did not accept that her behaviour was verbally abusive.
Eight charges against the nurse were found proved, including that she treated staff in a “bullying manner,” and she admitted three others.
The inquiry was told Ms Price had expressed remorse for her actions and had worked as a registered nurse for the past two years, “without incident.”
Lesley Carcary of Action on Elder Abuse said: “Mrs Price engaged in a number of aggressive, threatening and demeaning behaviours towards five vulnerable residents for whom she had a duty of care.
“Sadly, this kind of appalling behaviour towards vulnerable people happens all too often, whether by care home staff, home carers, health professionals or even their own family.
“Although the NMC investigated Mrs Price’s conduct, we were dismayed to hear that despite the fact that 12 out of the 13 charges against her were proven, she was not struck off from the nursing register.”