A former care home nurse has been suspended for 12 months after a hearing found she had made a series of mistakes in administering medication.

Parveen Fatima, was employed as an adult nurse at Northwood Nursing and Residential Care Home in Blackburn, where it was alleged she failed to demonstrate knowledge, skill and judgment in medication administration, having administered medication to residents, and failing to sign the residents’ MAR charts.

At a Nursing and Midwifery Council hearing on March 25, her fitness to practice was found to be impaired after the above charge was proved, along with seven other charges which included failing to administer medication to a resident; the inability to correctly calculate and draw up the amount of medication required by a resident; signing MAR charts incorrectly; and making inappropriate decisions to not administer medication to residents.

Fatima was sanctioned with a 12-month suspension order and an interim suspension order of 18 months.

The charges arose while Fatima was employed as a registered nurse at the Preston New Road care home.

Following a long-term sickness absence, it was alleged that between June 23 and July 20, 2020, Fatima was unable to demonstrate good practice in respect of medicine administration.

Fatima was then placed on supervised shifts, and it was identified she would have missed medications or administered them at incorrect times if she had not been supervised closely.

After being offered support, she was asked to complete a medicine administration course which she failed.

Mrs Fatima was offered a redeployment as a carer but handed in her resignation on July 20, 2020, stating that she "did not feel that she was fit to work at the moment".

The NMC invited the panel to find Mrs Fatima’s fitness to practise impaired on the grounds that she was liable to put a patient at unwarranted risk of harm; was liable in the future to bring the nursing profession into disrepute; and was liable to commit a breach in the future.

The NMC report stated: “We consider the registrant has displayed no insight.

"We take this view because whilst the issues in this case were admitted locally there has been no response to the regulatory concern or charges and no evidence that the registrant has sought to strengthen her practice since the issues arose.

“We understand the registrant has not worked since the issues arose.

“The last contact from the registrant was on September 16, 2020, when it was said: ‘I am currently unemployed and I am not looking for work.

"'I am focused on working on my health and well-being and resting at home at the moment. I don’t plan on seeking further work at the moment as it all depends on my health and well-being.’

“We consider there is a continuing risk to the public due to the registrant having not taken any action to address her lack of competency. We consider there is a public interest in a finding of impairment being made in this case to declare and uphold proper standards.

“The registrant’s conduct engages the public interest. It is accepted this is wholly parasitical on the public protection issues.”

The panel was of the view the medication errors and failure to complete the MAR charts demonstrated an inability to carry out basic and fundamental nursing skills.

It was concluded Fatima’s practice was below the standard one would expect of the average registered nurse acting in her role.

In all the circumstances, the panel determined Fatima’s performance demonstrated a lack of competence.

The report went on: “We consider a suspension order for a period of 12 months is the proportionate sanction in the circumstances of this case.

“In the light of the registrant’s lack of engagement since September 2020, we do not consider it can be said there is a potential and willingness to respond positively to retraining.

“In the light of this we consider a suspension order is appropriate.

“A period of 12 months will allow time for the registrant to consider whether she wishes to return to nursing and, if so, to begin strengthening her practice in respect of the issues of concern in this case.”

At the end of the period of suspension, another panel will review the order where they may revoke or confirm the order, or it may replace the order with another order.

The panel also imposed an interim suspension order for a period of 18 months to cover the appeal period (28 days) should Mrs Fatima decide the appeal the decision of the panel.

Northwood were contacted for statement but said due to a change in management around two years ago they would not be wishing to comment on the above matters.