Woman ‘flung in chair’ as nurse lost his cool

AN Oldham mental health nurse frog-marched an elderly woman across the room and threw her into a chair because she picked food off another patient’s plate, a hearing was told..

Anthony Howarth (54), “lost it” with the woman, referred to as patient A, during a shift on the Beal Ward at St George’s Care Centre in Moorside, in March, 2007.

The next day, Howarth was seen grabbing another patient by the arm and dragging her into her bedroom after she shouted, the Nursing and Midwifery Council heard yesterday.

Centre administrator Sharea Sykes told the hearing she was shocked to see patients being manhandled.

Describing the first incident she said: “I went into the dining room to see some of the patients as I often do on my break.

“It was around lunchtime. I saw patient A sitting at the table eating her lunch.

“She was a bit excited. Then I saw her take some food off another patient’s plate. The other patient started shouting at her. She wasn’t happy.

“Then Mr Howarth grabbed patient A by her clothes and pulled her away from the table.

“I felt she was frog-marched across the room, then he threw her quite roughly into a chair next to the television.

“She looked worried and frightened.

“I was just taken aback. I was shocked and upset by what I had seen. I hadn’t seen any member of staff handle patients in that way before.

“I felt there was no need for it. I’m not a nurse but I thought it could have been dealt with in a calmer manner.

“It was as if he had just lost his patience.”

Mrs Sykes said she reported Howarth to the centre manager the next day, after witnessing a second incident.

She continued: ‘I entered the Beal ward again and I can remember patient B‚ shouting as I came in.

“I remember Mr Howarth grabbing her by the arm and taking her to her bedroom.

“The way he did it wasn’t gentle but it wasn’t aggressive. I felt there was no need to handle her like that. It was as if she was a naughty child.’

Howarth, of Oldham, is attending the central London hearing and is represented.

He denies inappropriately handling two patients in his care and that his fitness to practise is impaired.

If found guilty by the NMC, he could be struck off the register.

The hearing continues.