Somerset nurse disqualified for failing to dispense morphine

A Somerset nurse has been sacked for failing to give patients morphine before surgery.

Amanda-Jane Price has been suspended since the March 2019 incident.

The Nursing and Midwifery Board ruled Miss Price was “dishonest” with her colleagues and her ability to practice medicine safely was “impaired”.

Miss Price has been working as a nurse at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton since 2018.

On March 31, 2019, Miss Price did not give morphine to anyone in her care, erroneously recording the taking of morphine in her notes.

An investigation by the hospital’s emergency medicine consultant revealed that a 6 mg dose of morphine was recorded on the patient’s medical record, but the drug was not actually taken.

The witness told the court: “I checked the morphine count again and it was correct.

“There is no missing vial to suggest she gave it away. »

Miss Price later admitted to tampering with prescription forms and “knows her decision”.

Because of Miss Price’s actions, the patient underwent invasive surgery without analgesia and subsequently complained of pain.

The panel concluded that Miss Price had committed misconduct and would be initially suspended.

“This is deliberate dishonesty, which glosses over its clinical failures and causes real harm to vulnerable victims,” ​​the panel concluded.

As Miss Price did not respond to the decision, she has now been removed, meaning she can no longer work as a nurse.

The Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Musgrove Park Hospital, said it took action when the allegations came to light to ensure no other patients were harmed.

A spokesman said: “As soon as we became aware of the incident, Miss Price was relieved of her clinical patient duties while a detailed investigation was carried out.

“We believe the patients in her care were not harmed. »

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