The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Family’s fears after nurse gets job back
THE FAMILY of a frail Alzheimer’s sufferer who was “battered black and blue” by a nurse at a Fife hospital have expressed fears for the safety of other patients after learning that the sacked nurse has been reinstated as an NHS employee.
Last year the nurse was suspended from her duties at Stratheden Hospital near Cupar after five colleagues reported her for a serious assault on 88-year-old widow Betty Farley, who weighs just seven stone.
“Five other nurses reported it. It was brutal. She used excessive force.”
Victim’s daughter
June Redpath
Mrs Farley, of Methilhill, a “God-fearing” former president of the local British Legion and member of the Women’s Guild, suffered severe bruising to her back after being banged against a wall by the nurse, who apparently took offence when the patient wandered into the ward office in a confused state.
An NHS hearing later reinstated the nurse on a “final warning” basis, only for her to be sacked in January after NHS authorities discovered she had not told them about her arrest and possible criminal charges surrounding the assault case. The procurator fiscal, they were told, later decided to drop the case because of her sacking.
Mrs Farley’s family have since discovered from staff at Stratheden that the nurse won an appeal against her dismissal “on a technicality” and they understand she has now been reinstated as an NHS employee on a ‘final warning’.
THE FAMILY have also discovered that the nurse, who was already working as a private care home bank nurse before suspension, is now again working at a privately-run care home in Fife.
Inquiries have confirmed that she is also still registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Yesterday Mrs Farley’s daughter June Redpath (66), of Kennoway, said she and the rest of the family were angry about an apparent “lack of justice”.
They were also concerned that the NHS had set a precedent that “you can treat an old person violently and keep your job”.
Mrs Redpath, a married mother of two grown-up children, said: “Mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s eight years ago.
“We looked after her at home to begin with then she went into a care home in 2010 after falling down the stairs.
“She was beginning to get aggressive and was put into Stratheden last July to get her medication sorted.
“She had only been in the Radernie Ward a couple of months when the assault happened on September 30.
“She’d wandered into the wee office in a confused state. This nurse took her out of the office, crossed mum’s hands over her chest and banged her against the wall.
“Five other nurses reported it. It was brutal. She used excessive force.
“But we didn’t find out about it until six days later on October 6. They didn’t tell us because the staff didn’t know the procedure.”
Mrs Redpath said the majority of nursing staff she had met at Stratheden were “appalled” at what had happened.
She also said that overall Stratheden offered “fantastic” care to her mother, who has three daughters, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
What concerned Mrs Redpath and her sisters Patricia and Phyllis most was that a similar situation could happen again.
NHS Fife nurse director Anne Buchanan said: “I can confirm that there was an incident last year which was dealt with in accordance with our human resource policies and procedures.
“NHS Fife’s policies ensure that our patients and members of staff have the right to confidentiality which therefore prevents us from disclosing any individual employee or patient related information.
“I would be happy to talk to the family of Mrs Farley if they wish to contact me to discuss the matter.”
A Crown Office spokesperson said:“we can confirm that the procurator fiscal at Cupar received a report concerning a 52-year-old female, in connection with an alleged incident on September 30 2011.
“After full and careful consideration of the facts and circumstances the procurator fiscal concluded that proceedings would not be in the public interest and the case is now closed.”
A spokeswoman for the Nursing and Midwifery Council said they could not comment on individual cases.