The family of a frail Alzheimer’s sufferer who was ”battered black and blue” by a nurse at a Fife hospital have expressed fears for the safety of other patients after learning that the sacked nurse has been reinstated as an NHS employee.
Last year the nurse was suspended from her duties at Stratheden Hospital near Cupar after five colleagues reported her for a serious assault on 88-year-old widow Betty Farley, who weighs just seven stones.
Mrs Farley, of Methilhill described as a ”God-fearing” former president of the local British Legion and member of the Women’s Guild suffered severe bruising to her back after being banged against a wall by the nurse, who apparently took offence to the patient wandering into the ward office in a confused state.
An NHS hearing later reinstated the nurse on a ”final warning” basis, only for her to be sacked in January after NHS authorities discovered she had not told them about her arrest and possible criminal charges surrounding the assault case.
The procurator fiscal, they were told, later decided to drop the case because of her sacking.
Mrs Farley’s family have since discovered from staff at Stratheden that the nurse won an appeal against her sacking ”on a technicality” and they understand she has now been reinstated as an NHS employee on a ‘final warning’.
The family have also discovered that the nurse, who was already working as a private care home bank nurse before suspension, is now again working at a privately-run care home in Fife.
Inquiries have confirmed that the nurse is also still registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Mrs Farley’s daughter June Redpath (66), of Kennoway, said she and the rest of the family are angry about an apparent ”lack of justice”.
They are also concerned that the NHS has set a precedent that ”you can treat an old person violently and keep your job”.
Mrs Redpath, a married mother of two grown-up children, said: ”Mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s eight years ago. We looked after her at home to begin with then she went into a care home in 2010 after falling down the stairs.
”She was beginning to get aggressive and was put into Stratheden last July to get her medication sorted. She had only been in the Radernie Ward a couple of months when the assault happened on September 30.
”She’d wandered into the wee office in a confused state. This nurse took her out of the office, crossed mum’s hands over her chest and banged her against the wall.
”Five other nurses reported it. It was brutal. She used excessive force.”
NHS Fife nurse director Anne Buchanan said: ”I can confirm that there was an incident last year which was dealt with in accordance with our human resource policies and procedures.
”NHS Fife’s policies ensure that our patients and members of staff have the right to confidentiality which therefore prevents us from disclosing any individual employee or patient-related information.”
A spokeswoman for the Nursing and Midwifery Council said it could not comment on individual cases.