A MENTAL health nurse who practised in Gwent has been struck off the register.

A Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) fitness to practice committee heard that Helen Carole Woods “failed to demonstrate the required skills in the administration of medication” on a number of occasions between 2014 and 2015.

These incidents all took place while Miss Woods was employed as a registered mental health nurse by the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board – the health board which covers Newport and Gwent.

A virtual hearing was held on Friday, August 20, where Woods - who did not attend - was issued with a striking off order “on the grounds of public protection”. The order comes into effect at the end of Wednesday, September 29.

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What did the committee hear?

The committee heard five previous reviews had been held into a series of charges against Woods since 2017, and she had been issued with a number or orders, and later a supension in 2020.

The charges were as follows:

  • On one or more occasions on or before September 12, 2014, administered depot medication without it being checked.
  • On two occasions on or before September 12, 2014, failed to administer Clozapine to Patient A.
  • On September 14, 2014, incorrectly recorded administering Paracetamol to Patient B.
  • On September 14, 2014, failed to record administering Paracetamol to Patient C.
  • On October 5, 2014, attempted to administer 300mgs Gabapentin to Patient D instead of the prescribed 100mgs.
  • On October 7, 2014, attempted to give Patient E’s inhaler to Patient F.
  • On April 13, 2015, or June 26, 2015, administered 2 x 400mg Ibruprofen instead of 2 x 200mg Ibuprofen to Patient G.
  • Between September 13, 2014, and October 15, 2014, was not assessed as competent to administer medication.
  • On April 13, 2015, or June 26, 2015, was not assessed as competent to administer medication.

The panel heard that though Woods has not worked as a registered nurse since 2014, she had indicated a wish to return to nursing practice.

During the fifth reviewing panel, it was heard that Woods has since worked as a healthcare assistant, but has not been in employment “for a number of months”, prior to February 2021.

The fifth panel opted against striking off Woods, instead extending her suspension – in order to allow her to “fully reflect and provide a future reviewing panel with tangible evidence of your willingness to remediate your practice.”

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What was the outcome?

Last month, the panel concluded that: “Previous panels have given recommendations for Miss Woods to comply with, however she has not done this or provided any further information.

“The panel took into account the significant length of time since the substantive order was imposed and considered that Miss Woods has shown no real effort or progress of remediation or insight. It was of the view that Miss Woods has shown a negative approach towards the NMC’s proceedings and her level of insight and attitude towards these proceedings seems to have deteriorated further.

“It noted that there has been no significant change in circumstances since the previous review hearing. In light of this, this panel determined that Miss Woods is still liable to repeat matters of the kind found proved.

“The panel therefore decided that a finding of continuing impairment is necessary on the grounds of public protection.”

Concluding, the panel wrote in its report that “Miss Woods’ actions have raised regulatory concerns about her professionalism and commitment to the upholding of standards of a registered nurse.

“In light of Miss Woods’ continued disregard of her regulator, non-compliance with her conditions of practice orders, and reluctance to complete a return to nursing course, the panel was of the opinion that a striking off order was the appropriate sanction.

“The panel determined that the only sanction that would adequately protect the public and serve the public interest was a striking-off order.”

The full report can be read online here.