Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Mariam Ileyemi
Published on 2024-03-29 18:41:02
A Nigerian nurse named Elizabeth Offier has been suspended for misconduct by the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and faces the possibility of being struck off from the agency’s register. The Fitness to Practice Committee of the NMC initially suspended Ms. Offier for six months due to impairment of her fitness to practice arising from misconduct. However, the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) filed an appeal in March 2023, arguing that the penalty was insufficient for the protection of the public. The PSA sought to quash the decision and substitute a striking-off order.
In a 21-page judgment approved by Justice Sheldon on 26th March 2024, it was revealed that a panel review hearing in August 2023, which Ms. Offier failed to attend, resulted in a further 12-month suspension. The NMC panel found Ms. Offier to be dishonest on multiple occasions with her employers, admitting to breaching orders for financial reasons.
Ms. Offier, a nurse in Nigeria since March 2004, worked through Pulse Healthcare Limited, where allegations of misconduct arose in 2019. She was accused of various infractions, such as signing a colleague’s initials on a patient’s chart, failing to administer medication to patients, and signing off on medications she did not provide. Subsequently, she failed to attend scheduled meetings and was terminated by Pulse.
Despite the termination, she applied for employment with First Call Healthcare Agency, failing to disclose her past work history and the conditions imposed by the NMC. When discovered, she was dismissed by First Call and subjected to an interim suspension order by the NMC. Throughout the process, Ms. Offier cited financial difficulties as the reason for her actions.
Following a hearing in March 2023 where Ms. Offier did not appear, the NMC’s panel findings of proven misconduct led to an appeal. The court document highlighted Ms. Offier’s dishonesty and failure to disclose vital information to her employers. Despite her absence in court, the panel found that the grounds for striking her off the register were justified, as she had breached multiple conditions and acted dishonestly.
Justice Sheldon, in his comments, criticized the panel for errors in assessing the severity of Ms. Offier’s actions and the public protection measures required. He ruled in favor of the appeal, remitting the decision for further review in light of the panel’s errors.
The case of Elizabeth Offier demonstrates the importance of professional conduct and transparency in healthcare practice. The judgment serves as a reminder of the consequences of misconduct and the need to uphold the highest standards of ethics and integrity in the medical profession.
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