Nurses Struck Off After Patient's Avoidable Death

Two nurses from the Worthing Assessment and Treatment Service (ATS) have been struck off following the suicide of a patient whose deteriorating condition was not properly managed.

Iorwerth John and Martin Pettitt were found to have neglected crucial care responsibilities for the patient, identified only as Patient A, who took his own life in November 2018.

A misconduct hearing by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) revealed that Mr. John, Patient A’s lead practitioner, and Mr. Pettitt, a registered nurse, failed to review or update the patient’s risk assessment from August to November 2018, despite clear signs of deterioration. Additionally, Mr. John did not communicate the impact of smoking on Patient A’s medication and failed to provide an adequate handover before going on leave.

Mr Pettitt sent Patient A for blood tests when he was not able to attend and failed to take appropriate action after losing contact with him in early November, also providing incorrect information in Patient A’s notes.

The NMC panel concluded that these lapses amounted to clinical negligence, as supported by a report from an independent consultant, which stated that the tragic outcome could have been avoided with proper mental health examinations and risk assessments.

Following the hearing on June 21, both nurses were struck off the register, effective after 18 months, during which an interim suspension is in place for any potential appeals.