A Carnoustie nurse with a “deep-seated attitudinal problem” is to be struck off for a catalogue of drug management failures.
Iain Thomson did not record methadone prescriptions for patients who missed several appointments and upped the dosage for others without informing their GPs.
NHS Tayside, which employed Mr Thomson, began an investigation in 2016 after discovering he had not kept records for a patient who died in circumstances which were thought to be drug-related.
The woman had missed four appointments and should have had her methadone prescription suspended in an effort to encourage her to attend.
Substance abuse worker Mr Thomson also copied and pasted appointment notes, failed to log missed and cancelled appointments and did not act when another patient attended the pharmacy smelling strongly of cannabis.
A Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) panel took the decision to suspend his registration for six months in April after Mr Thomson failed to appear at his hearing.
He was not present or represented at the review hearing in Edinburgh and previously told the NMC he had no intention of working as a nurse again.
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The panel determined to proceed in Mr Thomson’s absence following legal advice and was of the view that there was a high risk of repetition.
The judgment stated: “The panel was of the view that Mr Thomson’s lack of cooperation with his regulator, despite an obligation to do so, signified a deep-seated attitudinal problem.
“The panel considered imposing a further suspension order.
“However, the panel noted that there were multiple incidents of misconduct relating to fundamental nursing skills over a protracted period of time and that Mr Thomson has not shown any remorse for his misconduct.
“Further, Mr Thomson has shown a persistent lack of insight into the seriousness of the charges found proved or their consequences.”
The panel noted that Mr Thomson’s last communication with the NMC was in August 2017 when he stated that he had no intention of returning to work as a registered nurse.
The panel considered that he had been afforded sufficient time to engage, to develop further insight and to address the concerns identified with regard to his clinical practice.
However, due to his lack of engagement in this regard, the panel determined that a further period of suspension would not serve any useful purpose.
The judgment continued: “The panel determined that it was necessary to take action to prevent Mr Thomson from practising in the future and concluded that the only sanction that would adequately protect the public and serve the high public interest in this case was a striking-off order.
“The panel was of the view that public confidence in the nursing profession and the NMC as regulator would not be maintained if Mr Thomson were not removed from the register.”
He will be struck off on November 8.
