Nurse struck off for needle use in staff toilet at care home

A nurse who took needles without permission and used them in a staff toilet at the care home where he worked has been struck off.

Andrew Cavanagh faced a series of charges over his conduct while he was working as a nurse at Lisden Care Home in Kirriemuir between August and October 2015.

He did not attend a hearing of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) but admitted the charges against him.

Cavanagh was working for the Balhousie Care Group (BCG) when he took the hypodermic needles belonging to the company without permission and used them on himself in the staff toilet at the home.

He failed to ensure spillages of his blood were cleaned up and failed to dispose of bloodied paper towels in the toilet.

The NMC also addressed concerns over Cavanagh’s administering of codeine phosphate to a resident on three occasions on October 2 2015.

He did not record a reason for the procedure in the resident’s notes, did not check whether his actions had relieved any pain and did not discuss the matter at staff handovers.

Cavanagh was also found to have acted in a similar manner with codeine phosphate at Ruthven Towers Care Home, Auchterarder.

The NMC said his fitness to practice was impaired.

A case report said: “Nurses are expected to be honest and trustworthy at all times and Mr Cavanagh’s repeated dishonest conduct in taking property which did not belong to him, without permission, fell far below this expectation.”

Cavanagh could not be reached for comment.

A spokeswoman for the home said: “Balhousie Care Group acted as soon as we were made aware of the incidents, suspending Mr Cavanagh and immediately alerting the necessary authorities.

“The safety of our residents is always our utmost priority,” she added.