A long serving nurse who was sacked from Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin following complaints from patients has had a series of restrictions placed on her future employment.
Senior nurse Margaret Smith will have to notify the Nursing and Midwifery Council if she gets another job in the UK in the next three years.
In addition she will not be allowed to take any responsibility for setting staffing levels for shifts, allocating staff to different areas, and carrying out appraisal.
The three-year condition of practice order was set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council yesterday.
It follows Mrs Smith’s dismissal on the grounds of gross misconduct in December 2012 after she had been in charge of ward 6 at the Moray hospital for 12 years.
One complainant claimed her mother had been discharged from the ward to a care home without underwear, while another said her relative was left screaming in pain while her call buzzer was ignored.
Mrs Smith did not attend yesterday’s hearing. However, she previously admitted that between February 2012 and April 2012 she failed to ensure there were an adequate number of staff available to meet the ward’s needs.
In a statement to the Nursing and Midwifrey Council she said she was “deeply upset” that she had made the errors and would ensure that patient safety was at the forefront of her mind in future.
She also confirmed she had no desire to return to a managerial role.
Since December 17 2012, Mrs Smith has been employed as a staff nurse at Abbeyside Nursing Home at Grove Care Home, Elgin.
Abbeyside Nursing Home has confirmed there have been no complaints or disciplinary procedures and said it had no fitness to practise concerns regarding Mrs Smith.