Adobe StockA care worker who gave out a morphine dose eight times higher than the prescribed amount has been handed a warning.
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) ruled Ayotunde Akinyemi Sobamiwa’s fitness to practice had been impaired due to misconduct.
While employed as a social care worker in Glasgow, Sobamiwa was found to have incorrectly dispensed 3 x 20ml of morphine, instead of the prescribed 3 x 2.5ml, to a person using social services in May 2024.
Sobamiwa admitted the dosage was not correctly recorded and that they “couldn’t recollect” what medication was administered to the patient.
The social services user alerted another care worker the following day that “too much medication” had been left the day prior.
The panel found the patient consumed 20ml of medication over the course of a night as set out in the allegation.
The SSSC said the patient had exceeded his medication by a “substantial amount”, and that the potential consequences were “very serious”.
The report stated: “The SSSC’s position was that the conditions with a warning for one year is the least restrictive option is appropriate in this case.
“This would address the failing in your practice, while reducing the risk of harm to service users. The warning sends out a clear message from the regulator about the seriousness of the failing and helps to affirm the expected standards from registered social care professionals.
“You did not take issue with the terms of the conditions sought by the SSSC. You said that you understood that you had made a big mistake and you understood the benefit of re-training.
“However, you highlighted your concern that the imposition of conditions would make it very difficult to find employment in the sector. The Panel started at the least restrictive option and worked up.
“A condition would be appropriate as it would help to reduce the risk of harm to service users and the public by remediating the deficiency in your practice. The public would not be at risk while you comply with the conditions.
“The Panel acknowledged that you have shown some insight during the hearing about the seriousness of failing to administer medication correctly. You took action on your own initiative to help improve your practice.
“However, the Panel decided that conditions themselves did not sufficiently mark the seriousness of the potential harm that could have been caused by your actions. Therefore, a warning for a period of one year will also be applied.”
A warning was imposed on Sobamiwa’s registration for a period of 12 months, and a temporary conditions order was revoked.
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