Bridport: Nurse gave drugs to patients for 'peace and quiet' on shift (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Bridport: Nurse gave drugs to patients for 'peace and quiet' on shift

9:58am Thursday 26th November 2009

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A SECOND nurse at a Bridport care home is facing being struck off after being found guilty of misconduct.

Ila Haskings, 63, wanted ‘peace and quiet’ on the night shifts at St James Nursing Home in Bradpole, a hearing heard.

She denied dishonestly obtaining Temazepam tablets, administering unprescribed medication to patients, sleeping on shift, failing to carry out checks on patients when she said she had.

She also denied removing their call bells and applying extra incontinence pads.

Haskings was found guilty of all but one charge by the Nursing and Midwifery Council last week.

It follows a case in January when Priscilla Smith, 66, another former nurse at the home was struck off for sleeping on duty and allowing an assistant to administer drugs.

Haskings mixed sedatives with elderly residents’ medication so she could have ‘peace and quiet’ on night shifts.

She also put extra incontinence pads on residents so she would not have to change their sheets.

Haskings kept sedatives in a brown bottle in her tunic pocket and gave the unprescribed drugs to residents during the night.

Colleague Anthony Pitcher blew the whistle on Haskings. He told the hearing: “I saw her give the drug (Temazepam) to patients.

“She said it was so she could have a peaceful night,” said Mr Pitcher.

He said he often saw Haskings put two incontinence pads on patients at night even though they were only supposed to have one.

“She said it saved her having to work hard in the morning so she wouldn't have to change the bed sheets,” he added.

He also witnessed Haskings taking call bells away from patients so she would not be disturbed – including a severely arthritic woman, known as Resident D, who needed pain relief.

On one occasion a resident fell over after trying to make it to the toilet in time as she could not get help.

Mr Pitcher said: “I was angry. What if they were her relatives? Would she do it to her mother? It wasn’t right.”

Police investigated an allegation Haskings had been taking Temazepam tablets from the nursing home. She was arrested but no charges were brought.

The mental health nurse, who qualified in 1970, did not attend the central London hearing.

She admitted carrying Temazepam on her person and leaving medication in the bedrooms of six residents at night to save her having to give it out in the morning.

Haskings was found guilty of all the allegations except failing to carry out hourly checks on residents.

The panel were about to consider striking Haskings off but the hearing was adjourned after a personal tragedy involving one of the panelists.

Haskings of Cambridge Road, Dorchester, will find out her fate at a hearing on January 25.

Regional director for Bupa care Services Mark Elliott, said: “We place great importance on training and expect our fully qualified nurses to follow our strict procedures to ensure our residents receive the best possible care. In cases like this we support the NMC investigation in to the actions of the nurse concerned and we will await the verdict.

“St James’ Nursing Home is rated as excellent by the care homes regulator.”

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