Nurse who left dying woman suspended

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 at Listerdale Care Home in Wickersley and disappeared to collect her belongings, the Nursing and Midwifery Council heard.

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

The NMC panel concluded after a two-day hearing that Bentley’s fitness to practise had been impaired and decided to suspend her from working for six months.

In its judgement, the panel said it had decided that Bentley was guilty of misconduct but not serious misconduct.

Bentley was working as a community staff nurse for Rotherham Primary Care Trust when she visited the woman at the Listerdale home on February 5, 2008,

between 10.40am and 11.55am.

Ms Cassandra Scarborough, for the NMC, said that Bentley had “failed to attend adequately to Patient A’s needs.”

She said: “When she attended that morning she didn't take her nursing bag, she failed to perform basic life support and then she left the patient following an episode of unconsciousness.

“Finally, there were no notes made by the registrant in relation to the incident.'

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 bag 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.

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