Wirral nurse suspended after giving patient the wrong drug

Apr 8 2009 Heswall News

A WIRRAL nurse has been suspended after giving a patient the wrong drug.

Valerie Beedles, 56, of Eastham, gave a patient an anti-sickness drug, instead of a drug that relieves stomach cramps, at St John’s Hospice, in Higher Bebington.

And the dose she did give to the patient was double the amount it should have been.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council said it was a “fundamental error” and suspended her for a year.

Beedles, a nurse with 35 years’ experience, faced a number of allegations concerning her work at St John’s Hospice, dating between May 1, 2006, and July, 2007.

She made the drugs blunder which left the patient in a sedated condition on or around May 1, 2006.

Beedles was also accused of incorrectly labelling the syringe driver (used to administer the drug) with the wrong patient’s name and failing to identify and/or report the error.

Following the incident, Beedles underwent a period of supervised practice, but she was unable to demonstrate she had the skills required to give drugs out safely.

She failed four drug administration assessments and made a number of serious drug errors at these assessments – some of which were described as “potentially life-threatening”.

Beedles admitted the charges and the NMC ruled her fitness to practice was impaired by her lack of competence.

The panel said: “The registrant’s behaviour in this case caused direct patient harm and she displayed a lack of insight.”