A mental health nurse who had an “inappropriate” relationship with a “vulnerable” patient has been suspended for a year.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has ruled that Margo Neilly is unfit to practice after she admitted a catalogue of allegations about her behaviour while employed at Fort William Health Centre.
The misconduct took place on several dates in 2012 and 2013. Ms Neilly was dismissed by NHS Highland on January 25, 2012.
A panel for the NMC ruled that Ms Neilly’s fitness to practice was impaired because of her behaviour and said that she should be suspended for 12 months.
Ms Neilly was at the NMC hearing in Edinburgh last month, and admitted a relationship with a former patient.
It was alleged that she “exploited and abused” the patient, described only as a Patient A.
Ms Neilly also admitted turning up at the health centre while drunk on one occasion and acting inappropriately towards colleagues.
She admitted swearing at two of them and flicking water in their faces in a provocative manner.
However, Ms Neilly was cleared of allegations that she conned patients into thinking she was still employed by NHS Highland, almost two years after she was sacked.
An allegation that she turned up at the centre while drunk in October last year was also not proven.
Thompsons Solicitors, who acted for Ms Neilly at the hearing, said that she did not wish to comment on the ruling.