Nurse struck off after 8 complaints says ruling was unfair

Published on Monday 13 April 2009 22:08

A NURSE yesterday attacked as "unfair" a decision to strike her off the profession's register after 33 years.

Sandra Cairns, 54, from Cambuslang, has been deemed unfit to practise by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Ms Cairns was initially suspended from the Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow, in December 2007 after she was accused of failing to carry out proper observations of one patient and falsifying records relating to blood pressure for two other patients.

Eight complaints were registered against Ms Cairns, all related to incidents during one shift on 7 October, 2007.

Ms Cairns said she had made the mistakes because she was having "an off day".

"I wasn't well that evening. I had a terrible headache before my shift but decided to work through it," she explained.

"I think there was one complaint and then it turned into more. They were obviously out to get rid of me."

The NMC said Ms Cairns' behaviour was "incompatible with continued practice as a nurse and the only appropriate sanction is a striking-off order".

Ms Cairns, who has been unable to work since August last year following a hip replacement operation, had hoped to return to nursing soon.

"I wanted to start nursing again as soon as I was fit and healthy. I would have liked to work in an outpatient department, but now I won't be able to do that."

Ms Cairns told The Scotsman yesterday she had not yet received official notification that she had been struck off.

She said: "It's pretty rotten after 33 years' service. I don't think it's right. I have worked in nursing since I was 17 and it's all I've ever done."

A spokeswoman for the Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS said: "The disciplinary panel has come to a conclusion and we have nothing to add."