Scots nurse who left elderly woman in chair for 24 hours suspended

A nurse who left an elderly woman sitting in a chair and unable to move for 24 hours has been suspended from working in the profession.

Stacey Smith was working at Randolph Hill Nursing Home in Dunblane in 2020 as a staff nurse when two incidents occurred during her shifts.

A healthcare assistant on night shift noticed an elderly woman with mobility issues was still awake in her chair at 9pm and in need of being put to bed.

The worker then told Smith who failed to take action. She was reminded again at 11pm, 1am and 1.45am but said she would “get round to it”.

For the rest of the shift, Smith ignored reminders about the woman, leaving the healthcare assistant and another colleague to move her themselves at around 6.40am.

The woman, who usually required the use of a hoist, an extra-large sling and three staff to help transfer her, on this occasion had to be moved by just two workers.

The resident had been in her chair for around 24 hours by the time she was put to bed.

Smith didn’t tell her colleagues that the patient had spent the night in her chair or highlight the risk of possible issues with skin integrity.

On another occasion, Smith failed to flush a man’s catheter which had become blocked, she also failed to escalate the matter to a senior nurse.

Just a few days later, Smith resigned from her position with immediate effect and hasn’t returned to the profession since.

The former nurse was reported to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) where she admitted the charges and impairment.

The NMC panel concluded that Smith “demonstrated no evidence of harmful deep-seated personality or attitudinal problems and there is no evidence of repetition of behaviour since the incident”.

It was decided that Smith should be given a six month suspension.

The report said Smith had left the profession and is working in hospitality.