Mental health nurse struck off for misconduct

A mental health nurse has been struck off after a misconduct hearing found her actions caused a patient physical and emotional harm.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council found Lancashire nurse Kay Mitchell's fitness to practice to be impaired due to her actions against a patient and a colleague in 2022 in two separate incidents.

Mitchell did not attend the fitness-to-practise committee's hearing, which ruled to prevent her from practicing in order to protect the public.

The committee found she had acted in a manner that was unprofessional and/or abusive towards a patient, as well as encouraging a staff member to contact someone to commit violence against a colleague.

The panel found the charges proved that the registered nurse, on or around 6 April 2022, acted in a manner that was unprofessional and/or abusive towards a patient referred to as Patient A.

The panel also found, on or around 28 March 2022, she encouraged a member of staff to contact an ex-employee in order to commit violence against a colleague.

The panel found Mitchell, who did not attend this or previous hearings, had not engaged with any recommendations or training, nor had she expressed any remorse about her behaviour.

It concluded she should be struck off.

The striking-off order will take effect when Mitchell's current suspension order expires on 27 October.

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