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Stafford Hospital nurse who forced tablets down pensioner's throat faces action

A nurse who rammed tablets down a pensioner's throat with his bare hands at Stafford Hospital has been found guilty of misconduct.

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Sipho Makhaye half choked the elderly man in front of his horrified son, the Nursing and Midwifery Council heard.

He also blundered by administering a drugs drip at the wrong rate, the NMC was told.

Makhaye refused to co-operate with the investigation and has shown no sign of remorse, according to the panel.

"There is no evidence that Sipho Mak-haye has taken any steps to remedy his mistake," said panel chair Dr Jacqueline Mitton.

"Patients and their families must be able to trust nurses with their care."

The two incidents took place less than a year after the government ordered a full public inquiry into the wider problems at Stafford Hospital.

The pensioner's shocked son told the hearing: "The registrant then gave him some tablets, pulling his head back and putting the medication into his mouth with his bare fingers. I remember he did this without wearing gloves and he shoved it down Patient B's throat and then put a glass of water down his throat too."

The panel heard Patient B started to choke all of the water onto the floor.

"I don't think the registrant realised we were there.

"I objected to the way the medication was administered and asked him if he did this to other patients. "He replied: 'Yes.'

"I asked if he would treat his father this way and he became nervous and shook and his words were all stammering. He replied that he treated all patients in a similar manner and that it is the only way to administer medication."

The son added: "I still find it very shocking. It was something I couldn't believe was happening."

On the same night shift Makhaye also administered a patient's intravenous drip at a rate different to what had been prescribed.

Makhaye's fitness to practice was found to be impaired by reason of misconduct.

He could now be struck off.

The hearing continues.

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