A MENTAL health nurse has been struck off after knowingly allowing a patient to sit in his own faeces for 45 minutes before threatening him.

Andrea Moore, who worked at MHA-run The Willows nursing home in Mobberley, was found guilty of misconduct by a Nursing and Midwifery Council disciplinary panel in August.

The offences were committed on April 5, 2016, and were reported to senior staff on April 7. The following day, Mrs Moore was suspended and then, following an internal disciplinary meeting in May of 2016, sacked.

The NMC panel ruled that Mrs Moore had failed to clean in a timely fashion a resident who suffered with dementia, and had spoken inappropriately and in a threatening manner – a charge she denied.

Namely, she told him to shut up on a number of occasions, and mirrored his aggression when he did not comply.

Mrs Moore was cleared of holding an incontinence pad close to the resident’s face, and also of holding a towel over his mouth to keep him quiet. All charges related to the same episode on April 6.

Having heard the evidence, the panel ruled that Mrs Moore’s fitness to practise was impaired and elected to make a striking off order, removing her name from the register. An interim order of 18 months’ suspension was made to facilitate any potential appeal.

The decision report said: “Rather than de-escalate the situation, as a mental health nurse is trained to do, Mrs Moore’s aggressive manner and bad language inflamed the situation which eventually reduced [the resident] to tears.

“Mrs Moore’s actions were significant departures from the standards expected of a registered nurse, and are fundamentally incompatible with her remaining on the register.

“The panel was of the view that the findings in this particular case demonstrate that Mrs Moore’s actions were serious and to allow her to continue practising would undermine public confidence in the profession and in the NMC as a regulatory body.

“The panel has concluded that there is a high risk that Mrs Moore will repeat her misconduct.”

Mrs Moore was not present at the hearings, having ‘voluntarily absented’ herself, and was not represented. In a letter dated July 2017, she responded to the charges and acknowledged the hearing.

On behalf of MHA and The Willows, manager Tamara Simmons said: “The quality of care that our residents receive is always our top priority.

“This unacceptable behaviour was quickly reported to management, at which point our strict disciplinary procedures were immediately followed.”