Sacked Scots nurse accused of slapping patient wins long-running battle to clear name

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A sacked nurse has won a long-running battle to clear her name after allegations she slapped a vulnerable patient left her 50-year career in tatters.Former critical care nurse Liz Murphy took up a manager job at a North Lanarkshire care home after retiring but was horrified to be dismissed just over a year later over claims she had hit a resident across the face.The 71-year-old great grandmother, from Newmains, spent all her savings battling the decision to sack her after referring herself to the nursing watchdog, claiming she was “stitched up” by disgruntled staff.Now, after four years of turmoil, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has thrown out the assault allegations over “inconsistent evidence”.Liz told the Record: “When I was accused of hitting the patient I was in absolute shock.

It was like a wrecking ball.“I had worked for the NHS for 46 years without a blemish before going into the care sector.“I have worked in casualty and intensive care.

I’ve been bitten, spat at, and not once have I ever retaliated. That just isn’t me.“I was so angry there were people out there thinking I had done this.“It’s taken four years but I’ve finally been exonerated from all misconduct.”Liz trained at Glasgow’s former Stobill Hospital and spent most of her career working at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.She retired in 2014 but missed the job and was offered the role of night manager at Douglas View Care Home in Hamilton in November 2018.Liz got on well with staff but said her “old school” management style wasn’t accepted by everyone and she raised concerns over medication going missing.In December 2019, the nurse was told she was being moved to another unit.On her second shift, the nurse had been helping two colleagues provide urgent