‘Abusive’ nurse waits to see if she is struck off

Date published: 11 May 2016


A NURSE who forcibly restrained an elderly dementia sufferer and told him “no-one likes you” faces being struck off.

Cheryl Johnson told the man “do that again and I will do it back” while holding him down at the Elm Unit in Treelands Care Home in Oldham.

She also said “she stinks, go and bath her” in earshot of another resident, the Nursing and Midwifery Council heard.

She was heard threatening residents to have them moved or detained under the Mental Health Act.

Johnson sat and watched television when called to attend a resident who was bleeding and was heard to shout “shut up, I am not having this today” at a resident under her care.

She refused to examine residents and made health care assistants administer medication, something they are not allowed to do, between October, 2013, and January, 2014.

The residents of the care centre, which is run by Handsale Care Home Group, were described as “vulnerable” and lacking the capacity to look after themselves.

Johnson “removed choice and dignity” from residents by putting them to bed early for no reason and imposing what was described as a strict regime.

She was rude and abrasive towards residents and repeatedly told them to “shut up”, it was found.

NMC panel chair Peter Cadman said: “The allegations are extremely serious and relate to physical and verbal abuse of vulnerable residents and are indicative of attitudinal issues rather than any specific area of clinical practice.”

It was found proved that Johnson shouted at residents, used abusive and threatening language, failed to attend residents when necessary and allowed care assistants to administer medication.

The panel found there was no case to answer for the charge that told a resident “shut up you can’t even walk” and that she moved resident’s personal items to inaccessible locations.

It was not proved that she did not complete accident forms or complete a body map for a resident.

The NMC found her fitness to practice impaired on the basis of the facts proved.

She will now have to wait until June 17 to find out her fate when the NMC hearing resumes.