Stafford Hospital nurses to stay in jobs after hearing over patient death
Two nurses at Stafford Hospital who failed to give basic life support to a dying pensioner and recorded in notes that she was sleeping when she was actually dead have been told they can keep their jobs.
Evelyn Agbeko and Dutch colleague Theresia Van Der Knaap were working on the hospital's ward 11 when they discovered the 81-year-old woman was unresponsive.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) heard that the patient had died, but the nurses failed to try chest compressions and Agbeko recorded that the patient was sleeping.
The pair later claimed they had been forced to cut corners because of low staffing levels.
They were both found guilty of misconduct for the events in 2010 but both can continue working.
Agbeko has been placed under a series of restrictions, including undergoing training and supervision, while Van Der Knaap has been given a caution that will show on her record for two years.
Campaigners have criticised the decision to allow the nurses to continue to practice.
Julie Bailey, who started the campaign group Cure the NHS after the death of her mother at Stafford Hospital, said it sent out a 'dangerous' signal.
Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust today revealed neither of the nurses were still working for Stafford or Cannock Chase hospitals. Staffordshire Police, which is probing up to 300 deaths at Stafford Hospital, has refused to reveal if the pair are under investigation.
Martin Parker, chairman of the NMC disciplinary panel, said that Ms Agbeko, who was the nurse in charge on the night shift, had made a number of clinical failings.
He said: "She failed to provide fundamental nursing care to Patient A and has shown a limited amount of insight throughout the NMC proceedings.
"The panel found areas of general incompetence and identified areas of practise that could be remedied and that she could strengthen."
Mr Parker added: "Ms Van Der Knaap has a long, previously unblemished career as a registered nurse. The panel noted that Ms Van Der Knaap has engaged with proceedings and that the ward was a challenging environment, both in terms of the needs of patients and the staff dynamics."
