A Dundee nurse has been cautioned for one year after causing unnecessary distress to a dementia sufferer by placing her hand over the patient’s mouth.
Lydia Clark Lingley admitted, in writing that on June 4, 2009, she covered the woman’s mouth to stop her screaming while on duty at Ninewells Hospital.
Ms Lingley and another nurse had responded to requests for help from a nursing assistant who was trying to turn the patient who did not like to be touched so she could be examined for pressure sores and have her sheets changed.
According to accounts of the event, Ms Lingley, who was working as a registered nurse for NHS Tayside at the time, placed her hand over the patient’s mouth to “shush” her as she was shrieking constantly.
A report by the Nursing and Midwifery Council stated Ms Lingley’s hand had lingered there “momentarily” until she either removed it of her own accord or it was removed by another nurse.
Despite her actions, Ms Lingley later said she was fully aware of the patient’s tendency to shout because of her condition, and acknowledged the patient’s vulnerability.
She also admitted causing the patient not identified in the report further distress and added that she had failed to recognise the impact of her behaviour which had affected the colleagues who witnessed the incident.
In its findings, published yesterday, the Nursing and Midwifery Council panel in London found her admission to be “generally” consistent with other des- criptions of the event.
She was placed under caution for one year as a result of her conduct, which was described as a “serious lapse in behaviour” that fell “substantially below” the standards expected of a nurse.
The conduct panel said it had taken into account the “trying” nature of working with demanding patients but said her actions had caused “distress to a vulnerable patient” and were “contrary to the principles of good nursing practice.”
“It was entirely unacceptable and should simply not have been done,” the panel said. “In the panel’s judgement the registrant’s behaviour diminishes public confidence in the profession.
“In the light of these considerations and of all the circumstances of the case, the panel finds that the registrant’s fitness to practise is impaired.
“The panel’s judgment is that the appropriate order is a caution order for a period of one year.”
Ms Lingley is working at a nursing home, but not as a nurse.
NHS Tayside refused to comment.