A THEATRE nurse who was responsible for a “persistent catalogue of serious errors” has been struck off the register.

Fourteen charges of misconduct against Mary Bradley were found proved by nursing watchdogs involving a number of patients at Hairmyres Hospital in Lanarkshire.

In one incident the nurse failed to ensure that surgeons had all the right equipment for an operation. 

She also had to be prompted to carry out a count of surgical instruments after a hernia operation to ensure that none had been left in the patient.

Another charge found proved states that she was unable to prepare the operating theatre for an upper endoscopy procedure.

Other charges relate to drug blunders while working in ward 3 of Hairmyres. 

Glasgow Times:
Hairmyres Hospital

In one incident, while working on the wards, she failed to give a patient an evening dose of a drug which can be used to help prevent thrombosis.

She also prescribed double the amount of nebuliser to another patient, which is used to aid breathing and in another incident failed to ensure a patient had the right amount of intravenous antibiotics.

The nurse also signed a patient record to say that she had given an injection when she hadn’t.

A panel of the Nursing and Midwifery Council said there was “nothing to indicate” that the nurse had shown any insight into her clinical failings.

They added: “This was not a matter of single error or an inability to carry out a particular nursing duty, but rather a persistent catalogue of serious errors and deficiencies which spanned a significant period of time and involved a number of patients. 

“The panel therefore concluded that, given the risk of repetition, the risk of harm to the public was high and a finding of current impairment was required to protect the public.”

The incidents happened while Ms Bradley was employed by NHS Lanarkshire from October 2010 to March 2013.

Frances Dodd, NHS Lanarkshire acute divisional nurse director, said: “When we identify any staff competence issues they are fully investigated and dealt with in accordance with our policies and procedures which may include notifying the relevant regulatory authority.

“I can confirm that Mrs Bradley is no longer employed as a registered nurse within NHS Lanarkshire.”