News

Nurse struck off after death of disabled man

Published

9 years ago

July 4, 2017

Tom Sinclair

Lorraine Stevens, 61: Struck off (pic. WNS)

A NURSE has been struck off after a patient died from downing a bottle of washing up liquid at a care home.

Lorraine Stevens, 61, didn’t raise the alarm when the man drank from the bottle – but instead made him drink several glasses of water to dilute it.

The patient was vomiting and frothing at the mouth, but Stevens waited nearly three hours to tell anyone else that he was unwell.

And when she did finally speak to her manager Stevens failed to mention how long he had been ill for, the misconduct hearing was told.

The disabled man – referred to only as Patient A – died the next morning.

Case presenter Gregory Wedge said: “Patient A reached through an open kitchen window and grabbed a bottle of washing up liquid, from which he drank an unknown quantity.

“The washing up liquid was promptly taken away from him and it is alleged that he was given glasses of water to drink.

“About 15 minutes after the incident, Patient A allegedly began coughing, vomiting and there was some foam at his mouth. He was given more water and continued to cough and vomit for 30 to 40 minutes.”

Mr Wedge said Stevens was the only qualified nurse at Begelly Bungalow in Begelly, Pembrokeshire, which housed four people with learning disabilities.

Patient A, who had been at the managed bungalow for just four months before his death, suffered brain damage at birth and had a history of trying to drink dangerous liquids.

But Stevens didn’t raise the alarm for two-and-a-half hours after he drank from the washing up bottle, and when she eventually did still failed to tell her manager the incident had happened hours beforehand.

The man collapsed at the bungalow around 8pm, some ten hours after consuming the liquid, and died in hospital early the following morning on July 13, 2013.

The Nurses and Midwifery Council also was told Stevens later mocked up risk assessment form for Patient A on the day his family came to collect his belongings.

The form said kitchen cupboards should be locked at the bungalow – but she didn’t point out it was written after his death.

Mr Wedge said Stevens had acted “dishonestly”.

He said: “She should have admitted that there was no risk assessment in place, rather than falsifying clinical documents in an attempt to create the impression that there had been one.”

Dyfed Powys Police investigated Stevens in connection with the man’s death, but no charges were ever brought to her or employers Hywel Dda University Health Board.

Panel chair Monica French told the hearing in Cardiff that Stevens’ actions “increased the risk of harm” to her patient.

She also said Stevens’ decision to leave her shift early on the day, leaving the “deteriorating” man to be cared for by staff without medical training, placed him at “an unwarranted risk of harm.”

Miss French said: “Stevens failed to ensure that Patient A was safe and to provide him with the high standard of care expected of her as a registered nurse.

“In addition, her dishonest actions in respect of the risk assessment were inconsistent with her obligations as a registered nurse.

“There was no evidence before the panel that Stevens had any insight or remorse into the potential gravity of her actions and omissions or their impact.”

Stevens, from Pembroke Dock, was given a struck off the nurses register, and will not be able to reapply for five years.

Speaking at her home, she said: “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Community

Mayors and community leaders join Milford Haven Founders Day celebrations

Published

1 hour ago

June 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Town’s civic leaders praised as event highlights community spirit

A HOST of civic dignitaries and community representatives joined residents for this year’s Milford Haven Founders Day, helping to mark the town’s annual celebration of its heritage and community spirit.

The event, held on Saturday, welcomed mayors and representatives from towns across Pembrokeshire, alongside police officers, clergy and local business leaders.

Milford Haven Founders Day organisers thanked guests for attending and supporting the occasion, describing their presence as helping to make the day “even more special”.

Among those attending were the Mayor of Milford Haven, Mark Woodward, accompanied by Mayoress Evija Upeniece Woodward; the Mayor of Haverfordwest, Councillor Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner, accompanied by Mayoress and Sheriff Councillor Dani Thomas-Turner; the Mayor of Pembroke, Jonathan Grimes; the Mayor of Pembroke Dock, Councillor Tony Wilcox; and the Mayor of Neyland, Councillor Peter Hay, accompanied by Mayoress Mitzy Hay.

The event also welcomed local Police Community Support Officers from Milford Haven and Neyland Police, Reverend Dr Adrian Furse of St Katharine and St Peter’s Church, Milford Haven, Milford Haven Business Circle chairman Byron Thomas Jenkins, and treasurer Amanda Dyson.

Organisers said the strong turnout from civic leaders reflected the importance of Founders Day as a celebration of Milford Haven’s identity and local pride.

A spokesperson for Milford Haven Founders Day said: “Your presence and support helped make the day a memorable celebration of our town, its history and its community spirit. We are truly grateful that you took the time to join us and share in the festivities.”

Pembroke Mayor Jonathan Grimes later praised the event, commenting: “Thank you for the kind invitation – it was a wonderful event!”

Photo caption:

Civic guests: Mayors, community representatives and local officers gather during Milford Haven Founders Day celebrations (Pic: Captured Soul Photography).

News

Davies attacks Welsh Government funding for campaign urging people to limit red meat

Published

1 hour ago

June 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

WELSH CONSERVATIVE Shadow Farming Minister Andrew RT Davies has called on Plaid Cymru ministers to stop funding public information campaigns which he says undermine Welsh meat.

The criticism follows a Welsh Government response to a written question from Welsh Conservative Senedd Leader Darren Millar, which showed £662,000 was allocated to the Climate Action Wales campaign during 2025-26.

Examples of the campaign include online advice on ‘green food choices’, sustainable eating and meat-free options, alongside wider material on energy, travel and consumer behaviour.

The campaign gives advice on reducing carbon emissions through choices on food, travel, energy and purchasing. Its sustainable food guidance says meat is among the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly from ruminant livestock such as cows and sheep.

It also advises people to limit red and processed meat, while saying those who do eat meat should try to buy local, sustainably farmed produce where available.

Mr Davies said Welsh meat should be promoted rather than undermined.

He said: “Welsh meat is of the highest quality and the industry forms a key part of our economy.

“Plaid Cymru separatists must celebrate it, not fund campaigns that undermine Welsh meat.

“No project aimed at discouraging meat consumption should receive public funds.”

The Welsh Government response said the figures related to public information campaigns connected to the previous government’s policies.

Education

Teacher incentive scheme branded ‘sticking plaster’ by school leaders

Published

1 hour ago

June 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SCHOOL leaders have warned that a Welsh Government plan to increase incentive payments for trainee teachers in priority subjects risks creating a “two-tier workforce”.

NAHT Cymru said the move may help attract some new teachers, but warned it does not address the wider recruitment and retention crisis facing schools across Wales.

The Welsh Government’s priority subject incentive scheme offers grants to eligible postgraduate teacher trainees in subjects including biology, chemistry, design and technology, digital technology and computer science, mathematics, international languages, physics and Welsh.

Laura Doel, national secretary of NAHT Cymru, said: “While we agree that an ambitious plan to help schools struggling with recruitment and retention of teachers is needed, we don’t think focusing on subject-specific incentives is the way to go.

“This risks creating a two-tier workforce and appears to be a short-term sticking plaster solution for a systemic problem.”

She said there appeared to be no requirement for teachers to remain in schools for a set number of years after induction in order to keep the payment.

Ms Doel added: “We know a significant proportion of teachers leave the profession within the first five years of teaching.”

NAHT Cymru said ministers should focus instead on the wider pressures affecting teachers, school leaders and primary schools, as well as secondary subjects where recruitment is difficult.

The union said improving pay, terms and conditions, and reducing workload would do more to make teaching an attractive long-term career.

Ms Doel said: “By going further in restoring the real-terms value of pay, which fell sharply over the previous decade, improving terms and conditions, and bearing down on unsustainable levels of workload, ministers could make the profession an attractive long-term career proposition once again.

“But schools also need fairer funding to recruit the staff and support staff they need and deliver for pupils.”

She said ensuring schools receive the full consequential funding owed through the Barnett Formula should be a priority for the new administration.