Nurse put patients in danger

A nurse in Pitlochry has been suspended from the nursing register after he put patients at risk with his lack of English.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council deemed Romanian Catalin Zigra, who worked at the Balhousie Care Home, unfit to practice after his lack of English led to him making mistakes with patients’medication.

At the tribunal hearing in Edinburgh, which Mr Zigra did not attend, the council was told a colleague supervising him on a medication round at the care home asked Mr Zigra to identify three common drugs, which he was unable to do.

Mr Zigra also failed to tell bosses at the home he was fired from his previous job. He later claimed he was sacked for“stupid reasons”.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council said:“Mr Zigra’s actions and his dishonest conduct were significant departures from the standards expected of a registered nurse and are fundamentally incompatible with him remaining on the register.

“The panel determined that Mr Zigra showed no insight into the seriousness of his actions.

“It was of the view that Mr Zigra put his own needs first when omitting pertinent information in the application form for employment and, in so doing, this was indicative of an attitudinal problem.

“The panel concluded that its findings in this case were serious and to allow him to continue practising would undermine public confidence.”

Mr Zigra has been suspended for an interim period of 18 months.