‘Unfit’ nurse can work but under curbs

Anurse who lied about morphine stock levels and tried to cover her tracks at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI) has been allowed to return to work.

Sumana Ojha was suspended after “failing to demonstrate the standards of knowledge, skill and judgment” for the role.

Last year the Nursing And Midwifery Council (NMC) found she was unfit to practice.

She faced a number of charges dating from 2016 and 2017, which she either admitted or were found proven by the panel.

The suspension order given as a result is due to expire next month and will be replaced with conditions on her practice – allowing her to return to work.

The NMC said, in November 2016 Ms Ojha had signed a document to say she had given a patient insulin, when she had not.

The next month she gave the drug Sando-K, rather than Phosphate Sandoz.

Both items have been recognised as confusing in the past, including by medical journals.

On May 18 2017, Ms Ojha did not sign a document to say she gave painkillers oxycodone and fentanyl.

And in June that year she made a “false entry” in the controlled drugs register about the amount of morphine available to “cover up a discrepancy”.

The NMC recognised the incidents as “somewhat historical”, as Ms Ojha has not practised since 2018.

It noted she had

completed training and appeared to be remorseful.

Ms Ojha said she was under stress and “panicked” when she saw wrong entries in the drug register.

As she spoke there were times she “appeared to panic and become somewhat incoherent”.

Concerns were raised she had not put in place any coping mechanisms,

and would be likely to again “act dishonestly” if a similar situation arose.

Six months on, a further NMC hearing has reviewed Ms Ojha’s case.

Laura Bowen, for the nurse, said she is now in an administrative role.

She said her client is “committed to return to nursing” and intends to enrol on a refresher course.

The panel felt essays submitted on her behalf showed she had “developed insight” into her actions.

But in one she again confused the names of two medications.

Ms Ojha, who now lives in England, has had conditions imposed for the next 18 months, including that she be supervised when giving medication.

PANIC: Sumana Ojha worked at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary when she made errors giving and keeping records of drugs. She no longer works there. Picture by Kenny Elrick.