A former Dundee health visitor has been struck off after a panel of the Nursing and Midwifery Council upheld more than 20 charges of misconduct against him.
Emmanuel Richam-Odoi, a Ghanaian who has now moved to London, was found to have mishandled the cases of 15 children in the three years to 2009 while he was a health visitor in the east of Dundee.
He was originally based at Park Avenue Medical Centre but moved to the Maryfield Medical Centre when it amalgamated with The Douglas Clinic to become part of a larger health visitor team.
He was called to a hearing of the council’s conduct and competence committee in September last year but chose to stay away, branding the proceedings in Edinburgh a “witchhunt”.
The hearing resumed in January but Mr Richam-Odoi still did not attend.
The case was continued and the panel said there were a range of concerns with the care of mothers and vulnerable children.
Mr Richam-Odoi’s failure to keep and maintain proper records may have had a serious risk to patient safety.
The 68-year-old was also found to have not undertaken post-natal depression screening to assess the mental health of new mothers or documented entries in health records.
He failed to visit a child after a police screening and did not adequately follow up a child who suffered burns.
In removing him from the nursing register, the panel said there had been a long pattern of serious failings in client care involving children and families.
The panel determined the only appropriate sanction was a striking-off order. An 18-month suspension order was also imposed.