Nurse suspended for lack of competence, UK

A 55 year old nurse from Thornton Heath, Surrey was suspended on Friday, 23 November, 2007 at a Conduct and Competence hearing of the Nursing and Midwifery Council in London.

Mr. Tennyon Lansana was employed by Bromley Hospital NHS Trust at the Princess Royal University Hospital in Farnborough, Kent when on several occasions he demonstrated a lack of standards of knowledge, skill and judgment required to practice without supervision as a staff nurse on a medical ward.

Following a two day hearing, an independent panel of the Nursing and Midwifery Council's (NMC) Conduct and Competence Committee found that his fitness to practice was impaired and that he should be suspended from the Register for a period of 1 year. During this time he may undertake further training and education in order to bring his level of competence up to the standard expected of any nurse working in the UK.

Commenting on the outcome of the hearing, NMC spokesperson Leila Harris said,

"The panel reached this decision having heard the evidence that proved the charge before it. Mr. Lansana did not possess the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities for lawful, safe and effective practice without direct supervision as set out in the NMC Code of Conduct. The panel has a duty to act in the public interest and to preserve the public's confidence in the profession."

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the UK regulator for two professions, nursing and midwifery. The primary purpose of the NMC is protection of the public. It does this through maintaining a register of all nurses, midwives and specialist community public health nurses eligible to practice within the UK and by setting standards for their education, training and conduct. Currently the number of registrants exceeds 682,000. The Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 (The Order), sets out the NMC's role and responsibilities. The independent panel is selected from a pool of individuals appointed by the Appointments Board. They come from a variety of backgrounds and are not NMC Council members, nor do they sit on any committee of the Council.

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