Care home nurse suspended for forcing a patient to take pills can return to work

Sian Roberts, former deputy manager at Edgeley House Care Centre, Whitchurch, was suspended following a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) hearing which heard she treated the patient as if she was "trying to give a dog worming tablets".

However Ms Roberts, who has always denied the allegations, has now been told that her 12-month suspension will be allowed to lapse.

The latest hearing heard a reference submitted by a recent employer of Ms Roberts.

It said: "Colleagues and clients alike enjoyed working with Sian as they found her warm, caring, funny and empathetic. Many of our clients would request her especially."

Last year, a hearing heard the nurse had forced a patient to take pills and also used physical force to get a patient into their room.

The NMC panel concluded that Roberts' actions did amount to misconduct and that her fitness to practice was impaired as a result – she was banned for a year.

However, in the report following a hearing held last month, it says: "You informed the panel on affirmation that you have not been able to complete a reflective essay as you still maintain that you are not guilty of the misconduct found proved.

"You told the panel that the police investigated the matters and brought no charges due to a lack of evidence.

"However, you told the panel that you understand that the charges would damage the reputation of the profession.

"You also accepted that members of the public would be horrified as the misconduct was of an abusive nature and you acknowledged the detrimental impact that such misconduct would have had on the patients and their families."

The hearing heard that Ms Roberts attended a two-day face-to-face safeguarding training course and successfully completed a written examination paper at the end.

She also began work as a care worker in November last year, involved with domiciliary care and within a short space of time was asked to become a team leader.

It concluded that her fitness to practise is not currently impaired and the substantive suspension order will lapse on October 23