2:31pm Wednesday 9th August 2006
A Croydon nurse left a patient in agony and with blood pouring down his face when she tried to wrench a metal clip from his skull with plastic tweezers, a hearing was told yesterday (Tuesday).
Mary Varkey, 44, should have used metal clippers when removing the clip from the patient's head at the Walton Centre NHS Trust in Liverpool the Nursery and Midwifery Council were told.
They also heard how Varkey was only prevented from re-opening the patient's head wound when fellow staff nurse Sarah Croft intervened after witnessing her error in 2003.
Ms Croft said: "Mary was asked to take the clips out of the patient's head so I told her to get the clip removers. But when I walked in she was attempting to take the clips out of this man's head wound with plastic tweezers.
"I was upset for the patient because he looked distressed. She could have opened up his head wound and caused infection."
The committee also heard how Varkey mixed up two patients prior to administrating a codeine phosphate injection in February 2003.
Fortunately, Varkey's blunder was spotted by her colleague, staff nurse Mark Hart, before she administered the drug to the wrong patient.
Varkey is also accused of failing to maintain the dignity of a patient in February 2003 by not covering her when changing her bed after a bed bath.
She is not attending the hearing in central London but denies the three counts of misconduct.
The hearing continues.
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