Paramedic Karen Nixon has been struck off the HPC register for recording unreliable observations of a patient on the Patient Record Form whilst employed by the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust (LAS).
A panel of the HPC Conduct and Competence Committee heard how Ms Nixon and a colleague on 27 June 2004 were called out to attend to a patient. Ms Nixon arrived at the patient’s side without the appropriate equipment and failed to carry out a proper assessment of the patient. The panel was then told that Ms Nixon’s records of the patient on the Patient Record Form were unreliable, and that these records could not be reconciled with the electronic readings made during the journey to the hospital on the "Lifepack 12" monitor. The patient in question died later that day, probable cause of pulmonary embolism.
Panel chair Ian Griffiths stated:
"The panel concludes that as a result of her failures Ms Nixon did not appreciate the seriousness of the patient’s condition… Ms Nixon failed to follow Trust procedures and in doing so failed in her duty of the patient".
Ms Nixon’s failures did however not result in the patient’s death.
The panel decided to strike Ms Nixon off the register.
Ms Nixon was not present, nor represented, at the hearing.
-ENDS-
Jenny Karlsson
Health Professions Council
www.hpc-uk.org
1. The Health Professions Council is an independent, UK-wide health regulator set up by the Health Professions Order (2001). The HPC keeps a register for thirteen different health professions and only registers people who meet the standards it sets for their training, professional skills, behaviour and health. The HPC will take action against health professionals who do not meet these standards or who use a protected title illegally.
1. Full details of this hearing will be posted online here: http://www.hpc-uk.org/complaints/hearings/index.asp?id=710
