Mental health nurse who drank before her shift is struck off

A MENTAL health nurse who turned up for work drunk has been struck off for misconduct.

Angela Booth, who worked at the Nettleton Manor Care Home near Caistor for over ten years, has seen her details removed from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register following a hearing of the NMC panel in London.

The hearing was told Booth, a mental health nurse since 1984, attended work under the influence of alcohol on July 27 last year.

The charge, which was proved, was that Booth turned up late for a night shift and told a colleague she had had "a few alcoholic drinks" that night.

A colleague said she could perceive a "strong smell of alcohol" on Booth's breath and that she was slurring her words.

A witness told the panel that she found it strange that Booth believed she would be able to care for residents with high dependent nursing needs in a drunken state.

Other charges proved included Booth leaving the medication trolley unlocked and unattended, failing to check she had the correct patient name, drug and dose on the medication box before preparing to administer medication, and failing to respect the dignity of a resident while changing them.

She had been employed at Nettleton for around 11 years in various roles.

The charges against Booth, who was neither present nor represented at the hearing, were found proved.

The panel was told there was a "public interest" in the "expeditious disposal of the case" despite Booth's non-attendance.

The panel was also told that Booth would have been the only registered nurse on duty on the night of July 27 and that, as the most senior member of staff on duty, would have been in charge of the shift.

It was said that witnesses' "dismay at what they witnessed Mrs Booth doing was clear".

The panel said: "However, it was also obvious to the panel that they had not reported what they considered to be Mrs Booth's poor and unacceptable practice because of any ill feeling towards her but as a result of their sincere concern for the safety and wellbeing of the vulnerable residents at the home.

"When asked, the witnesses described Mrs Booth as a pleasant lady."

The verdict read: "Mrs Booth repeatedly put vulnerable residents at risk of serious harm through unsafe practice in terms of medication errors; non-compliance with the policies and practices established by her employer designed to ensure the health and wellbeing of those in her care; inappropriate handling, not respecting the dignity of the residents, and by attending work when under the influence of alcohol.

"Mrs Booth's misconduct was not an isolated incident but was repeated and it continued despite supervision and support, which included advice as to the need to practice safely."

It added that she had "not engaged with the NMC process in a meaningful way" and that "the aggravating features of this case far outweigh the extremely limited mitigating features".

In mitigation, it was said that Booth, looking back to the time of her employment at the home, believes that she was "preoccupied with some considerable pain" and that this affected her concentration.

Booth's name was removed from the NMC Register. She may not apply for restoration for five years and was also handed an 18-month interim suspension order.

Nettleton Manor declined to comment when contacted by the Grimsby Telegraph.

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