Ward nurse who took chocolate is struck off

A MENTAL health nurse has been struck off after a tribunal found he had taken a patient's chocolate, left a ward without nursing supervision on numerous occasions to sleep or for cigarette breaks, and swore at colleagues.

- SAM VOLPE Reporter

Alan McArdle had been working at an inpatient ward in Northumberland. The hospital trust has not been named.

At a Nursing and Midwifery Council hearing which concluded last week, a total of five charges relating to events in June and July 2021 were found to be proven and the panel found "deep-seated attitudinal concerns".

Mr McArdle did not attend the hearing, though had previously in response to an investigation claimed that the allegations against him were motivated by "homophobia".

The panel found this not to be the case and found the witness evidence from a “model” student nurse to be “credible and consistent”. Mr McArdle has subsequently been struck off.

When he took the chocolate from a patient, the panel found that on the balance of probability he had also then said “that’s the least she can f****** do”. Mr McArdle had claimed his sense of humour was “often misunderstood”.