Nurse suspended over claims that elderly patients were abused

Published on Monday 25 May 2009 22:11

A SCOTTISH nurse has been suspended from two jobs following allegations of abuse involving elderly patients.

David Mutty, 59, from Dundee, was doing night shifts at a private nursing home as well as working full-time in an NHS hospital caring for elderly dementia patients.

Mutty was suspended after allegations that he had abused patients at St Columba's nursing home, run by private care firm Southern Cross.

Following a police investigation, NHS Tayside also suspended enrolled nurse Mutty from duty at Liff Hospital, where he had worked for more than ten years.

The allegations included claims Mutty was aggressive towards elderly and frail patients at St Columba's and that he swore and used highly offensive language towards them.

There were also allegations that Mutty's behaviour caused alarm and distress to other patients. He has also been accused of risking injuring patients at the expensive, private nursing home.

Mutty was a full-time member of staff at NHS Tayside's Liff Hospital, where he worked four nights a week, caring for elderly dementia and psychiatric patients.

He was suspended on full pay from Liff last month after NHS bosses heard he was under investigation over abuse allegations.

Following Mutty's suspension from St Columba's, where he had been working three nights a week for several years, the Mauritius-born nurse resigned from his part-time post.

The allegations surfaced in April following reports from concerned staff at St Columba's, which caters for around 60 patients. Management carried out an investigation.

Mutty was interviewed by officers from Tayside Police and the Crown Office is considering whether to initiate criminal proceedings.

Outside his Dundee home, Mutty persistently denied his true identity. He later said: "I have nothing to say."

An NHS Tayside spokeswoman said: "We cannot comment at the present time."

A police spokeswoman said: "A 59-year-old man has been charged."

A Crown Office spokesman confirmed a report had gone to the procurator-fiscal in connection with incidents between January and April 2009.

A spokesman for St Columba's care home in Dundee said: "Following allegations of ill-treatment, an investigation was launched into a male member of staff. He was immediately suspended, but resigned before an outcome had been determined.

"A police investigation is ongoing and, therefore, we are unable to comment further."