A Highland care home boss who was accused of describing residents as being “here to die” will go before his professional watchdog today.
John Charters faces 14 charges relating to an eight month period as deputy manager at Grandview House Care Home in Grantown.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has already heard claims that Mr Charters went to watch television while an elderly woman was “screaming in pain” after falling in the home’s reception area.
The Nairn man’s hearing began in February but was adjourned on its first day after the BBC incorrectly reported that he had been struck off.
His defence argued the story may have influenced witnesses, and asked for an adjournment to enable him to gauge the impact of the report.
The hearing is scheduled to resume in Edinburgh from today.
Before the adjournment, witness Kathleen Girvan – a care assistant at the home at the time – told the NMC panel about an incident involving a frail elderly lady, known only as Resident 11, who had fallen over in reception at home.
She said: “The resident had fallen and was screaming in pain. Mr Charters completed his observations and called an ambulance, then went and sat in the main lounge.
“I went and made sure she was comfortable by placing a pillow under her head. Mr Charters had disappeared – when I asked another carer where he was they told me he was watching TV.”
It was alleged Mr Charters did not ensure Resident 11’s “dignity was maintained” after she fell, in that he failed to ensure a screen was placed around her and did not move residents away.
Mrs Girvan also detailed an occasion when Mr Charters was helping her change the catheter for a female suffering from dementia.
It is alleged that while performing the procedure, Mr Charters slapped the resident on her bare bottom and said: “I’ll be your Samson if you be my Delilah”.
Representatives of Mr Charters put it to Mrs Girvan that the claims were “simply not true” and that she had “made them up”.