Nurse 'left 84-year-old to die'

Elizabeth Bentley made no attempt to revive the pensioner, who was unconscious and had no pulse after suffering from a string of suspected mini-strokes.

The 34-year-old told staff to take the wheelchair-bound woman, referred to as Patient A, back to the bedroom and disappeared to collect her belongings, the Nursing and Midwifery Council panel in London heard. 

Bentley found the patient dead when she returned to her room just a few minutes later.

She was working as a community staff nurse for Rotherham Primary Care Trust when she visited the woman at Listerdale Care Home on February 5, 2008, between 10.40am and 11.55am.

Cassandra Scarborough, for the NMC, said Bentley “failed to attend adequately to Patient A's needs.”

The NMC panel found Bentley guilty of failing to attempt to resuscitate the patient, call paramedics or make observations as a result of not bringing her nursing back when attending the patient.

Bentley, who chose not to attend the hearing, was also found guilty of failing to obtain medical records and document the care provided to the patient.

The panel also agreed her fitness to practice was impaired.

The panel will decide later whether to strike Bentley off or suspend her.