Six Valleys nurses at Caerphilly care home failed to care for vulnerable residents, disciplinary panel rules

The Nursing and Midwifery Council, sitting in Cardiff earlier today, discussed misconduct charges against six nurses in relation to the care of nine vulnerable residents at Brithdir Care Home in New Tredegar, in Caerphilly county, between April 2004 and March 2006.

They are Susan Greening, who worked at the home initially as a registered nurse and then as its manager; Daphne Richards, nurse and later acting manager; Rachel Pritchard, clinical nurse manager and later nurse director; Rachel Tanta, nurse; Beverley Mock, nurse; and Tembazaki Moyana, mental health nurse.

The failings include failing to prevent pressure sores and delays in seeking advice about an infected feeding tube.

An NMC panel, chaired by Christine Castledine, is yet to decide whether the nurses will face sanctions. A further hearing is scheduled to be held on July 21.

All six defendants had been accused of more than 150 failings.

Other failings found proved against them included failing to keep adequate records and failing to ensure a resident was prescribed antibiotics for pressure sore when a GP said they were necessary.

Eighteen failings were proved against Ms Tanta, five were proved against Ms Mock, 12 were proved against Ms Pritchard, while 28 were proved against mental health nurse, Miss Moyana.

Fourteen were found proved against against Ms Richards.

There were also nine proved against Ms Greening, who was a registered nurse and later care home manager.

The home cares for 40 vulnerable patients and is now under new management.

A further hearing will take place before the conduct and competence committee can decide whether the failings in each nurse's case amount to misconduct and whether their individual fitness to practise is impaired.

Any sanctions they face will then be fixed.