Violent nurse could lose job

A nurse who attacked his girlfriend in a drunken rage and stole strong painkillers from work may lose his job.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NWC) heard how Corey Newcombe kicked the woman on her left arm and banged her head during a domestic assault at her home.

He then pulled the sheets off their bed, picked her up and shouted: “Are you f***ing ready?”, the council heard.

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Police were called and Newcombe, who worked in the medical admissions unit at Leicester Royal Infirmary, was arrested. The NWC heard that when searched, he was found to be in possession of high-strength painkiller diazepam, which had not been prescribed.

Officers found further quantities of diazepam, and other drugs, at his own home.

When quizzed by police, he admitted taking the tablets from the acute medical ward at the infirmary, but he later said they were stolen from Leicester General Hospital where he had been on secondment.

Chairman Polly Clarke described the assault and theft as “serious incidents” in which the nurse’s actions fell “well below” the expected standards.

She said: “The panel took the view that violent conduct outside the workplace and the additional dishonest behaviour within it could be seen to indicate a risk to patients.

“Offences of this nature have a negative impact on public confidence in the profession and bring it into disrepute.”

She accepted Newcombe had shown he was sorry for the attack, but there was little understanding of its potential impact on the reputation of nursing.

She said he had given inconsistent explanations for the drugs, and “had shown little or no insight into the seriousness of stealing drugs from an employer.”

The panel ruled Newcombe’s ability to continue working had been and remained compromised by his behaviour.

She said: “Public confidence in the profession and in the regulatory process would be undermined were it not to make a finding of impairment.”

The panel will decide what sanction, if any, to impose, when the hearing resumes next month.

Newcombe assaulted his now ex-partner in April 2010 and received a caution from Leicestershire Constabulary the following August.

The thefts are understood to have taken place between January and August 2008.

Following the police intervention, an internal investigation was carried out and Newcombe was temporarily suspended. He resigned from his post on June 8, 2010, before the inquiry had concluded.

The council heard it was the second time the male nurse had been subject to disciplinary proceedings.

In October 2008, he was investigated after a colleague saw him swallow a diazepam tablet in one of the treatment rooms and put more tablets in his pocket.

He denied taking the drug, but the allegations were upheld.

Source : thisisleicestershire