A nurse at a care home in Merseyside has been struck off after she was was found to have abused a resident.
Susan Hughes, a registered nurse at Charlotte House Care Home in Bebington, was struck off the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register after an investigation found that she abused and mistreated a "vulnerable resident" of the care home. The incidents in question occurred in December 2019 before the care home moved into new management.
Hughes was found to have abused a female patient, referred to as Resident A in an NMC report, calling her "stupid" and "childish." She was also found to have not taken the "adequate action" when the patient showed "concerning" deterioration when she was on duty and didn't inform a manager or doctor.
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She failed to take "any adequate observations" - such as checking her pulse or temperature - when the patient's worsening condition became obvious. She also failed to inform their next of kin, or even record details of Resident A's ill-health.
Hughes, who has practiced as a registered nurse since 2009, said she tried to take observations but respected what she called Resident A's choice to refuse. Yet, a witness and coworker said they saw no attempts from Hughes to make the observations.
Another witness said the next day they found little difficulty in taking observations from Resident A, which would lead to an ambulance being called and Resident A being admitted to the ICU.
Hughes was also found to have handled the patient's walking frame to "get her to walk faster," and to have been "sleeping on duty" by coworkers multiple times. She was also found to have not responded to the "call bell" when rang by the Resident A and other patients.
One witness, Hughes' coworker, was reported as saying: "‘I saw Susan sleep on duty every shift I worked with her. She would be on reception with her feet on the desk. The reception area is open plan and the reception desk was in plain view.
"I could tell that Susan was asleep because she used to snore. She used to sleep for an hour and a half around 5.30am/5.45am before starting the morning medication round at 7am."
Hughes denied that she was sleeping on duty, stating that "she has an eye condition which may make it appear that she is asleep when she is not." However, the investigators said this failed to account for her coworkers "observations of snoring."
The report said that "compelling evidence" proved the accusation.
The investigation also found that it was a "deliberate decision" from Hughes to not answer the call bell at times. One witness, referring to an incident when the call bell went off, said that Hughes said to them "bagsy not doing CPR."
The report concluded Hughes' ability to practice nursing was "impaired".
Hughes has now been suspended for 18 months, before she will be struck off the NMC register which recognises those who can work as a nurse or midwife in the UK.
There is still an opportunity for her to appeal this decision.
Lovett Care, the current custodians of Charlotte House Care Home told the ECHO: "This incident occurred 12 months prior to Lovett Care purchasing the Home and we are therefore unable to make any comment regarding the nurse, the investigation or any actions taken by the previous owners."
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