Nurse struck off after drinking while on job

A NURSE who was drunk on shift seven times as she cared for the terminally ill has been thrown out of the profession.

Louise Hawkins was suspended from Royton's Dr Kershaw's Hospice after turning up late for work and stinking of alcohol in January last year.

An investigation was launched and it was discovered she had been inebriated at work on at least six other occasions, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) heard.

It was said that Hawkins would often take extended breaks during shifts, and that staff members had reported smelling booze on her breath.

The hearing heard how in February 2014, a colleague claimed Hawkins had a bottle of "a dark liquid" during the shift.

She described her as "erratic" and that she was forced to take extra precautions, skipping her breaks to protect patients.

But it was said that the next day, Hawkins was at it again, acting strangely and reeking of alcohol, prompting a colleague to search the hospice and find an empty vodka bottle in the kitchen bin.

The NMC hearing heard how on other occasions Hawkins slurred her words and was clearly drunk.

During one incident, a colleague thought she was unfit to drive but when she went to find Hawkins to give her a lift home she had already driven off.

Staff reported entering rooms after Hawkins had been in them to be hit by wafts of alcohol.

Hawkins' behaviour would change mid-shift, she usually had a "quiet and softly spoken demeanour" but changed to being "very loud, dishevelled and swearing", it was heard.

After her suspension she denied drinking on duty, asserting that she was being bullied by the staff.

She later said she had difficult personal circumstances and admitted to having wine on some occasions before coming on duty, and that she could have brought alcohol in.

Hawkins, who was employed by the Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust, was sacked in 2015.

She said she was "sorry for putting colleagues and patients at risk" and that her behaviour was "totally unprofessional".

An NMC misconduct panel found Hawkins' fitness to practice was impaired and she was struck off the nursing register.

Panel chairman James Churchill said: "The incidents occurred on a number of occasions over a long period.

"Patients were put at risk and Mrs Hawkins' conduct negatively impacted on colleagues."