After allowing an aggressive sectioned patient into her mental health nursing facility, she was not charged. He then got drunk and forced a stranger to beat him. Then he returned to harassing staff sexually.
Matthew Edward Cheetham allowed the unnamed patient to leave the Livewell Syrena House facility, in Plymouth, despite failing a drugs test just hours earlier, a tribunal heard.
According to notes from the Nursing and Midwifery Council Hearing, ‘Patient A’ insisted that he hadn’t taken drugs. However, a follow up test showed otherwise. This meant that his leave rights should have been revoked.
However, the April 24th, 2019, patient who was detained in accordance with the Mental Health Act after violent criminal offenses, was allowed outside to smoke.
The tribunal later found that Mr Cheetham had worked at the facility from 2011, and signed him off to evening leave.
According to his “risk assessment” notes, the nurse stated that while Patient A tested positive for Spice in the lab tests, Patient A looked relatively calm and didn’t appear at high risk.
Matthew Edward Cheetham permitted the patient (pictured) to leave Livewell Syrena House in Plymouth, even though he failed a drug screening just hours before, according to a tribunal.
According to notes from the hearing, ‘Patient A’ claimed he hadn’t taken drugs. However, a follow up test showed otherwise. This meant that his leave rights should have been revoked. (file photo).
Later, Mr Cheetham told his manager that he didn’t know that Patient A’s medical conditions required that any positive drug tests should be immediately rescinded.
After a failed appearance, ‘Patient A’ agreed to make his return at 9 p.m.
He returned home at 12.52 AM and became hostile towards staff, according to the tribunal.
It reads, “Patient B was drunk and had been threatening and indecent towards a female employee at 1.10 a.m.
‘Patient A stated that he had paid a stranger £3.50 to have a fight with him and he had a bruise on his face.
“It’s alleged that Patient A behaved erratically throughout the night.
“As a consequence, additional staff were summoned and the police responded to the risk.
It said: “The panel believed it more probable than not that Dr Cheetham gave Patient A leave knowing that he had test positive for illegal substance earlier in the day.”
On its misconduct ruling, it said: ‘The panel was of the view that Mr Cheetham’s actions did fall significantly short of the standards expected of a registered nurse, and that Mr Cheetham’s actions amounted to a breach of the Code.’
“The Panel also noted: “The Code breaches do not necessarily result in misconduct being found.”
‘However, the panel was of the view that Mr Cheetham’s actions found proved resulted in actual harm to Patient A, a member of the public and Mr Cheetham’s colleagues at the Unit.
‘Taking all the information into account, the panel found that Mr Cheetham’s actions did fall seriously short of the conduct and standards expected of a nurse and amounted to misconduct.’
He was suspended for nine months by the tribunal. The tribunal stated that Cheetham displayed ‘no regret’ and his actions were in danger of repeating themselves.
He refused to cooperate with the tribunal.
According to the council, the panel stated that the failure of engagement has left no evidence of understanding, remediation, or remorse. There is a risk of repeating the same mistakes.
But it didn’t believe that his actions were sufficient to have him removed from the register.
Syrena House, a Plymstock recovery center for men with long-term and severe mental illness is located in Plymstock.
The website states that some residents have lived in secure facilities before moving to the area.