A NURSE has been struck off the medical register after lying about giving medication to care home residents.

Adelaide Maloane was working at Somerleigh Court, Dorchester, when the incident took place.

The care home has responded by saying it supports the decision of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Ms Maloane appeared before the NMC and faced allegations that, on the night of August 22, 2019, (she) inappropriately delegated the administration of medication to a non-trained health care assistant instead of administering the medication to the residents herself.

The nurse admitted, as part of an investigation by Somerleigh Court, on August 27, 2019, that she did not administer 16 medicines to residents and had signed the Medical Administration Records to the effect that she had.

The NMC received a referral from the General Manager of Somerleigh Court on September 10 2019 and carried out their own investigation.

Ms Maloane faced 12 individual charges - the majority of which being for falsely claiming to have administered risperidone, olanzapine, atorvastatin, zopiclone, mirtazapine and temazepam. All were found to be proved.

In the published report, the NMC said Ms Maloane had: “failed to acknowledge the seriousness of her misconduct and dishonesty and the implications of her actions for residents, colleagues and the reputation of the nursing profession".

The NMC found that were no “practical or workable conditions” that could be imposed to allow Ms Maloane to continue to practice and that, to allow her to continue practising, would “undermine public confidence in the profession.”

The panel said: “The conduct, as highlighted by the facts found proved, was a significant departure from the standards expected of a registered nurse. The panel noted that the serious breach of the fundamental tenets of the profession evidenced by Ms Maloane’s actions is fundamentally incompatible with her remaining on the register”

A spokesperson for Somerleigh Court said: “As soon as we identified the incident, we took appropriate action and reported it to the relevant authorities and statutory bodies.

“We are pleased that the subsequent process has now concluded and support the decision of the NMC.”

An interim suspension of 18 months is in place to allow for any potential appeal period.