Nurse with 'attitude problems' banned from practising

Cheryl Lewis (50), put on rubber gloves to tidy up her motor as music blared out of the car stereo.

She was supposed to be looking after two wheelchair-bound patients with learning difficulties at the time.

A Nursing and Midwifery Council panel rejected her claim she was pumping up her car tyre to entertain patients at the Elliott Centre day care facility on Badsley Moor Lane, Rotherham.

Lewis also upset a patient when she ordered him to stop looking down her top in January 2008.

Insufficient insight

Striking her off, panel chair Penny Griffith said Lewis had demonstrated “deep-seated attitudinal problems.”

“Through her actions, Mrs Lewis placed her own needs above those of highly vulnerable patients, dependent on her for their safety, health and wellbeing,” she said.

She has shown insufficient insight into, or remorse for, her failings and the events which lay behind them.

“Mrs Lewis has had plenty of opportunity to take steps to remedy her failings and reflect upon her actions. However, she has not done so.

“In light of her limited insight, there is a continuing risk to patients.

“Confidence in the profession and its regulator would be undermined if Mrs Lewis remained on the register.”

Ms Griffith added the nurse's behaviour was “fundamentally incompatible with continuing to be registered with the NMC.”

Face 'lit up'

Lewis was caught out by her manager Dawn Daveran as she swept her boot, on February 20, 2008.

She had falsely claimed a patient’s face “lit up” after she told him he could watch her pump up a tyre.

Lewis claimed she was suffering from a medical condition and needed the toilet urgently when, on March 13, 2008, she refused to get medication immediately for a patient.

A nurse asked for Lewis to get the drugs when the patient’s lips turned blue, but she replied “I need to use the toilet, I will get the medication on my return.”

Neil Maloney, for the NMC, said: “The registrant chose to go to the toilet before fetching the medication, and failed to make an enquiry about the urgency off the requirement for medication.

“In doing so, she put her own short term needs ahead of that of the patient.”

After Lewis refused and left the room, the nurse was forced to leave the patient alone while she went to get the require medication”

Lewis admitted at the earlier hearing “losing control” and yelling at a patient with learning disabilities who was acting aggressively, on November 5, 2008.

She shouted “get away from me, don't touch me” at the vulnerable patient and when he tried to apologise she retorted: “Sorry is only a word to you— it doesn't mean anything.”

Staff at the care home had to intervene to end the confrontation, on November 5, 2008, which led to Lewis' sacking for gross misconduct.

Mick Baraclough, defending, told the hearing Lewis had been suffering from a medical condition at the time of the incidents.

The details of the alleged ailment were discussed in a private session closed to the public and press.

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