A nurse at St Peter and St James Hospice in Lewes, East Sussex, named Naomi Butcher, has been removed from the nursing register due to serious medical errors and inappropriate behavior. Butcher put a terminally ill patient in danger by administering 50mg of Midazolam instead of the prescribed 5mg. She did not report this error and falsely claimed the correct dosage was given.
Furthermore, Butcher declined a family’s request to visit their deceased relative, making offensive remarks about their cultural practices. The Fitness to Practise Committee found evidence of a pattern of misconduct, risking harm to vulnerable patients and displaying discriminatory behavior.
The committee learned that Butcher had wagered with colleagues on a patient’s death on Christmas Day. Several instances were documented where she incorrectly administered medications or omitted dosages, endangering patients’ well-being.
Despite denying some allegations, Butcher’s fitness to practice was deemed impaired by her misconduct. Witness statements highlighted her inappropriate actions, including refusing family visits and making derogatory comments. The hospice reported concerns about Butcher to the Nursing and Midwifery Council, leading to her removal from the nursing register.
The incident involving Butcher’s misconduct prompted the hospice to take action, but due to her resignation and sick leave, further discussions were hindered. The decision to strike off Butcher was made by the Fitness to Practise Committee following a thorough investigation into the multiple misconduct allegations.