IRVINE CARE WORKER REMOVED FOR SHOCKING NEGLECT AFTER FALL
A care at home assistant named Margaret Howat, employed by North Ayrshire Council in Irvine, has been delisted from the care register following a serious incident involving an elderly woman.She was criticised for leaving the woman, who had fallen and suffered broken ribs weeks earlier, on the floor.
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) described her conduct as "shocking," and Margaret admitted that her actions were "disgusting." The event was monitored by a motion-triggered camera, which showed her failing to request assistance as the woman lost her balance in another room.
Instead, Howat documented that the woman had fallen but was "okay" and was "settled in the lounge." The SSSC pointed out she had 22 years of experience as a care worker and should have recognized the severity of a fall.
Despite her efforts to help and physically support the woman, she was unable to lift her back up.
Unaware that the woman had fractured ribs in a prior fall and unable to communicate her injury, Howat left the woman sitting or kneeling on the floor and went to her next appointment without alerting emergency services.
The regulator called her actions "shocking," acknowledging her uncertainty over whether the woman had been injured or hit her head, and criticized her for exposing her to potential harm and indignity by leaving her in an uncomfortable position.
The incident occurred in December 2022 during a lunchtime visit, and about an hour after Howat’s departure, the woman’s daughter arrived to find her mother distressed and on the floor.
Since then, Howat has not worked as a carer.
At a recent hearing, she admitted her fitness to practise was impaired due to misconduct, leading the SSSC to decide she should be removed from the register.
Her behavior was deemed "disgusting" and "shocking," despite her being considered an "excellent" carer with a long service record, with health and stress factors influencing her actions.
The case emphasizes the critical importance of dignity and safety for vulnerable individuals in care settings.
