A nurse who made a series of medication errors while working at Cygnet Hospital Hexham has been restricted from practising without supervision after a Nursing and Midwifery Council panel found her fitness to practise was impaired.
Violet Innocent Iyoki was given a 12-month Conditions of Practice Order after four charges relating to medication administration and dispensing were proved, with one charge proved in part. The incidents took place between June 2022 and January 2023 while she was working at the Hexham mental health hospital.
Medication errors identified before treatment
The panel found that Ms Iyoki administered one patient an incorrect dose of chlordiazepoxide. In a separate incident, she dispensed approximately 20ml of clozapine when the prescription was for 4ml. Another nurse intercepted that medication before it was administered.
In January 2023, Ms Iyoki used a medication pot bearing another patient’s initials and dispensed co-amoxiclav when amoxicillin had been prescribed. The incorrect antibiotic was identified before it reached the patient.
The panel said no patient suffered direct harm. However, it concluded that the repeated errors created a risk of serious harm and amounted to misconduct.
What the practice restrictions mean
The order requires Ms Iyoki to work for one substantive employer. It also prevents her from being the sole nurse on duty or the nurse in charge. She must be directly supervised whenever she dispenses or administers medication.
The panel found that one allegation — that Ms Iyoki attempted to give a patient the wrong medication — was not proved. It also found there was no case to answer on a fifth charge.
In mitigation, the panel found that Ms Iyoki was a new international nurse who had received little support from her employer and had been working in a challenging workplace culture. It also noted that she had shown good insight and remorse, completed further training and taken steps to improve her practice.
Despite those steps, the panel concluded that the concerns had not yet been fully remedied and that a risk of repetition remained. The restrictions therefore remain in place for 12 months, according to the case reported by the Hexham Courant.
Cygnet response
A Cygnet spokesperson said the organisation had investigated the alleged incidents and that Ms Iyoki was dismissed following its internal process.
“Care of our service users is our top priority and we thoroughly investigate any alleged incidents. "Our internal investigation and disciplinary process is robust and we can confirm the individual concerned was dismissed following a thorough investigation. "We are assured that effective systems are in place to both safeguard service users and enable staff to speak up about any concerns they may have.”