CAROL WELCH SHOCKS CATTERICK: NURSE SUSPENDED OVER END-OF-LIFE CARE FAILURES
A nurse named Carol Welch has been suspended from her role after failing to provide appropriate care to a terminally ill elderly patient during a night shift at Catterick’s Rosedale Nursing Home.The Nursing and Midwifery Council was made aware that Welch did not carry out key aspects of patient care, such as providing pressure relief or cleaning blood from the patient’s mouth with moisture.
The patient, at the final stage of life and entirely dependent on nursing staff, was found with a significant pressure ulcer on his upper thigh on October 12, 2013.
Welch admitted that she did not perform pressure-relief procedures, believing them unnecessary given the patient’s condition.
The patient died two days afterwards.
The care plan outlined that the patient should have been repositioned regularly during the night and mouth care provided every two to four hours, but records lacked any proof these actions took place.
The panel concluded that her failure to act was detrimental to the patient and stressed the importance of preserving dignity in end-of-life treatment.
Although her neglect was not shown to be malicious, she received a six-month suspension, and her name was required to be temporarily removed from the professional register until her practice is suitably corrected.
