Nurse cleared of allegations.
A Zimbabwean nurse accused of laughing at a female patient following an accident in which the latter cut her head open, has been cleared.
The nurse, Mrs Catherine Mutongwizo, a nursing home manager, was hauled before an NMC(Nursing and Midwifery Council) tribunal on charges of allegedly laughing at the patient (name withheld) following a fall, but was last week exonerated following representation by UK lawyer, Dr. Masimba Mavaza.
The NMC took the action against Mrs Mutongwizo, after raising allegations that she said ‘let’s all laugh about this’ after the accident at Beaufort Hall Nursing Home, Weston-Super-Mare, ZimEye.com has learnt.
Mutongwizo faced other charges which included allegedly exposing a second resident to the risk of choking and advising a colleague not to record concerns about a resident in case the Care Quality Commission inspected the diary. Others were for allegedly failing in her responsibility to assure that all members of staff were provided with adequate training.
Mr Mavaza however argued that Mutongwizo is a person of good character who has a long 42 year clean record.
She thus received a light sanction, a Conditions of Practice Order which is to last 4 months. The NMC said in a statement of its findings, her evidence was honestly given and she was “generally consistent.”