Nurse who appeared intoxicated and dispensed wrong medication to care home patients suspended

A Glasgow nurse has been suspended after dispensing the wrong medication to care home patients while appearing to be under the influence of alcohol.

Allegations arose while Janice Maclean was employed as an agency nurse by Robinson Medical Recruitment Agency. She had been employed by the company since June 17, 2020.

The incidents took place on August 24 and October 10 2020 at Northgate House and Kyle Court Nursing Home care homes.

Maclean did not attend the hearing and did not respond to attempts from the panel to get in touch with her.

The hearing heard Maclean had failed to administer medication in a timely manner to a number of patients on both dates, and had also administered incorrect dosages of medication on August 24.

On both dates, Maclean also appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or otherwise unfit to attend work.

A witness who saw Maclean on August 24 said in a statement: “On this shift, the registrant looked a bit away with it, as if she was drunk or had taken something.”

In a statement, Maclean denied that she consumed any alcohol either prior to or during this shift.

Another witness who saw Maclean around 10.30pm on October 10, 2020 said in a statement: “I started to notice that [Maclean] was behaving oddly. She kept banging the medicine trolley against the wall and was acting uncoordinated. She seemed unstable on her feet.

“I asked her if she had been drinking, as the lack of coordination made it seem like she could be drunk.”

The witness added she was scared for Maclean as she was staggering, hitting off walls and unable to stand up straight and appeared to be “on some sort of drug”.

On this date, Maclean was found slumped over a chair in a resident’s room and that her speech was slurred.

Maclean did not provide a further statement on the second incident.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council concluded Maclean had attended work while under the influence of alcohol and/or unfit on both occasions.

The panel said: “Patients were put at risk of harm as a result of Ms Maclean’s misconduct.

“The panel was of the view that there is no evidence before it to indicate that the risks identified in Ms Maclean’s practice have been addressed or reduced.

“Ms Maclean’s misconduct has breached the fundamental tenets of the nursing profession and therefore brought its reputation into disrepute.”

Maclean was suspended for nine months, with an interim period of 18 months to allow Maclean 28 days to appeal the decision.