Nurse struck-off over needle use

A Tayside nurse who took needles and used them in a staff toilet 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 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 hand-overs

Cavanagh acted in a similar manner at Ruthven Towers Care Home in Auchterarder.

The NMC said his fitness to practise was impaired.

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.”