Shropshire mental health nurse banned for force feeding pills
A Shropshire mental health nurse has been suspended for a year after she forced a patient to take pills as if she was "trying to give a dog worming tablets".
Sian Roberts, former deputy manager at the Edgeley House Care Centre in Whitchurch, told a colleague to "say nothing" after ramming the drugs into the woman's mouth.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council heard Roberts also used physical force to get a patient into their room by grabbing her shoulders and pushing her down the corridor.
Describing the incident which occurred on an unknown date early last year, another member of staff at the home said: "It was not nice, it was force.
"She was forcing her back into her bedroom while the resident was swearing, telling her to get off."
The colleague said she had not immediately reported the "awful" incident because Roberts was "intimidating".
Another member of staff who saw her forcing the tablets on a patient said: "It was like trying to give a dog a worming tablet".
Roberts turned to her and said: "I know you aren't supposed to do this but don't say nothing either."
The NMC panel concluded that Roberts' actions did amount to misconduct and that her fitness to practice is impaired as a result.
But it was found that a striking-off order would be too harsh and Roberts was banned for a year.
Panel chair Malcolm Butterworth said: "Ms Roberts' actions do fall significantly short of the standards expected of a registered nurse, and Ms Roberts' actions do amount to a breach of the code.
"Forcing a resident to swallow medication is serious and falls well below the standards expected of a registered nurse.
"It also considered that using an inappropriate method or physical force to make a resident enter their room is serious and falls well below the standards."
He added: "The cumulative effect of the charges found proved is that Ms Roberts' actions did fall seriously short of the conduct and standards expected of a nurse and amounted to misconduct."
Liz Hands, a spokeswoman for the home, said after the hearing: "Our own robust procedures and whistle blowing policies enabled this matter to be brought to the attention of the authorities.
"The individual concerned no longer works at the home.
"These were the totally unacceptable actions of one individual and do not reflect the caring and professional staff at the home."
