'Incompetent' nurse 'stared blankly' at patients

A "rude and awkward" nurse whose employment was terminated during her probationary period is set to be struck off after a panel ruled she presented a "significant risk of harm" to patients.

Louise Woodgate, from Suffolk, was let go by Homelink Healthcare Ltd in April 2023, six months after being employed as a community nurse who provided intravenous (IV) treatment.

Woodgate reportedly showed a serious lack of competence through multiple failings in infection control and medication management and "stared blankly at patients".

The Nursing and Midwifery Council said the nurse's actions amounted to misconduct and she would be removed from the register in 18 months if she does not appeal.

"Your actions were significant departures from the standards expected of a registered nurse and are fundamentally incompatible with you remaining on the register," it said.

Woodgate was hired in October 2022 by Homelink – a private firm providing at-home services on behalf of hospitals, such as Norfolk's James Paget University Hospital.

These services include intravenous (IV) medication, observations at home, virtual ward support, physical services and care packages.

Among other shortfalls, during her employment Woodgate showed little to no knowledge of patients' medications and asked how to take blood in front of them.

She was unable to correct a non-dripping infusion bag and attempted to connect a Ceftriaxone syringe to a patient which had air inside it.

According to the panel, Woodgate also failed on multiple occasions to adopt infection control and prevention measures, potentially putting patients at risk.

She did not clean equipment before or after use, nor did she wash her hands or know when to wear PPE and did not change gloves between sterile and non-sterile tasks.

She also did not maintain a sterile field whilst administering medication, conducted other activities while wearing gloves, and opened a syringe before putting it down.

Furthermore, Woodgate did not talk with patients, explain procedures or her actions, "presented as rude and awkward" and displayed a lack of empathy when delivering sad news.

She also once lied about taking a patient's respiratory rate and told a colleague not to tell anyone that she had not carried out the check.

The panel said Woodgate showed a level of dishonesty that may "indicate a deep-seated attitudinal issue" and her actions were at the "higher end of the scale of seriousness".

"A pattern of conduct representing a lack of competence is present throughout the charges found proved, which poses a risk of harm to patients," the report said.

"There remains a risk that conduct of the kind found proved could be repeated in the future."

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