Nurse’s threat to ‘flatten’ patient

A NURSE shocked colleagues when he threatened to “flatten” a psychiatric patient for wandering around, a tribunal heard.

Patrick Bradley allegedly said to the patient “if you come back to Southside I’ll flatten you” at Parklands House, Royal Oldham Hospital.

Giving evidence, former colleague Trevor Baker described Bradley as a character he would wish to avoid.

Parklands House is a mental health building made up of two wards — Northside and Southside — between which patients can freely wander, separated only by a swing door. Patients would be gently encouraged to remain within their own ward.

Describing the incident on May 30, 2008 to a Nursing and Midwifery Council tribunal in London, Mr Baker said: ““Patrick came towards the office and was with Patient A. I clearly recall Patrick saying to the patient ‘if you come to Southside again I’ll flatten you.’

“I can’t remember if he swore or not, but afterwards my colleague and I looked at each other in shock.

“Patients tended to walk between the two wards, but in any case it was totally unacceptable to threaten a patient.

“I didn’t report the incident at the time because I thought my colleague was planning to do it.

“Patient A had shown no aggression whatsoever. He was very mild-mannered and in no way a problem.

“Patrick was also quite intimidating and aggressive towards staff and patients — it was his nature.”

Bradley makes no admission to the charge of threatening to “flatten” Patient A. If his fitness to practice is found to be impaired he could be struck off.

The hearing continues.