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| Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey cleared of misconduct | Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey cleared of misconduct |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Pauline Cafferkey has been cleared of professional misconduct by a panel at the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in Edinburgh following an investigation into her return to the UK after contracting the Ebola virus. | Pauline Cafferkey has been cleared of professional misconduct by a panel at the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in Edinburgh following an investigation into her return to the UK after contracting the Ebola virus. |
| The panel ruled that Cafferkey’s judgment had been so compromised by her developing illness that she could not be held responsible for putting the public in danger, concluding: “In your diminished medical state you were swept along by events.” | The panel ruled that Cafferkey’s judgment had been so compromised by her developing illness that she could not be held responsible for putting the public in danger, concluding: “In your diminished medical state you were swept along by events.” |
| Describing Cafferkey as an experienced nurse, the panel concluded she would not have acted against her training unless her judgment had been seriously impaired. | Describing Cafferkey as an experienced nurse, the panel concluded she would not have acted against her training unless her judgment had been seriously impaired. |
| “There was no evidence that you set out to mislead Public Health England by allowing an incorrect temperature to be recorded,” the ruling said. | “There was no evidence that you set out to mislead Public Health England by allowing an incorrect temperature to be recorded,” the ruling said. |
| Clearing Cafferkey of all charges, the chair of the panel acknowledged that it had been a distressing process and wished her a full recovery and every success for the future. | Clearing Cafferkey of all charges, the chair of the panel acknowledged that it had been a distressing process and wished her a full recovery and every success for the future. |
| Cafferkey, who was infected with the devastating disease while working as a volunteer in west Africa in 2014, had faced possible sanctions including being struck off. | Cafferkey, who was infected with the devastating disease while working as a volunteer in west Africa in 2014, had faced possible sanctions including being struck off. |
| Cafferkey’s legal representative Joyce Cullen read a statement on her behalf, in which she expressed her relief that the disciplinary process was at an end. | Cafferkey’s legal representative Joyce Cullen read a statement on her behalf, in which she expressed her relief that the disciplinary process was at an end. |
| Cullen said: “She willingly put her life at risk to travel to Sierra Leone to work as a volunteer helping to treat people suffering from Ebola. She and hundreds of other volunteers played a vital role in saving lives and helping to curb the epidemic in extremely challenging circumstances.” | Cullen said: “She willingly put her life at risk to travel to Sierra Leone to work as a volunteer helping to treat people suffering from Ebola. She and hundreds of other volunteers played a vital role in saving lives and helping to curb the epidemic in extremely challenging circumstances.” |
| Cafferkey went on to highlight the deficiencies in Public Health England’s screening processes, which were exposed during the hearing. “As the panel heard, when Pauline and her fellow volunteers arrived at Heathrow, they were faced with chaotic scenes. Public Health England were unprepared for the volume of people returning from areas affected by Ebola. There were also serious failures of communication amongst the PHE staff. | Cafferkey went on to highlight the deficiencies in Public Health England’s screening processes, which were exposed during the hearing. “As the panel heard, when Pauline and her fellow volunteers arrived at Heathrow, they were faced with chaotic scenes. Public Health England were unprepared for the volume of people returning from areas affected by Ebola. There were also serious failures of communication amongst the PHE staff. |
| “It is perhaps ironic that given the criticisms made of PHE’s processes, it was their complaint that led to the NMC investigation and these proceedings being initiated against Pauline. No doubt lessons have been learned.” | “It is perhaps ironic that given the criticisms made of PHE’s processes, it was their complaint that led to the NMC investigation and these proceedings being initiated against Pauline. No doubt lessons have been learned.” |
| She added that Cafferkey would never have intentionally put the public at risk through her actions. “Throughout her career, Pauline has been motivated by a genuine desire to help other people even if this meant putting her own life at risk. She would never have knowingly put anyone in danger. Pauline was lucky to survive and since her return from Sierra Leone has continued to suffer from ill health,” Cullen said. | She added that Cafferkey would never have intentionally put the public at risk through her actions. “Throughout her career, Pauline has been motivated by a genuine desire to help other people even if this meant putting her own life at risk. She would never have knowingly put anyone in danger. Pauline was lucky to survive and since her return from Sierra Leone has continued to suffer from ill health,” Cullen said. |
| Describing the NMC disciplinary process as “upsetting and stressful”, she said that Cafferkey was delighted with the decision that she had no case to answer and was now able to continue her nursing career in Scotland. | Describing the NMC disciplinary process as “upsetting and stressful”, she said that Cafferkey was delighted with the decision that she had no case to answer and was now able to continue her nursing career in Scotland. |
| During the two-day hearing, the NMC submitted that following Cafferkey’s return to the UK from Sierra Leone at the end of December 2014, she allowed an incorrect temperature to be recorded by Public Health England’s screening facility at Heathrow airport and that, realising she had an elevated temperature, an initial symptom of Ebola, she left the screening area without reporting this to a member of staff. | During the two-day hearing, the NMC submitted that following Cafferkey’s return to the UK from Sierra Leone at the end of December 2014, she allowed an incorrect temperature to be recorded by Public Health England’s screening facility at Heathrow airport and that, realising she had an elevated temperature, an initial symptom of Ebola, she left the screening area without reporting this to a member of staff. |
| But Cafferkey’s representative argued that an isolated incident of poor judgment brought about by extreme exhaustion and the early stages of Ebola infection should not be allowed to blight the nurse’s otherwise impeccable professional record. Cafferkey was exhausted by her journey back to the UK and was suffering from the early symptoms of Ebola. | But Cafferkey’s representative argued that an isolated incident of poor judgment brought about by extreme exhaustion and the early stages of Ebola infection should not be allowed to blight the nurse’s otherwise impeccable professional record. Cafferkey was exhausted by her journey back to the UK and was suffering from the early symptoms of Ebola. |
| On Tuesday, the panel struck out a charge that Cafferkey had acted dishonestly after hearing expert evidence suggesting her “ability to make decisions and reason properly” had been severely compromised by the time she reached the UK. | On Tuesday, the panel struck out a charge that Cafferkey had acted dishonestly after hearing expert evidence suggesting her “ability to make decisions and reason properly” had been severely compromised by the time she reached the UK. |
| A submission from a medical expert, a Dr Thomson, said: “I have no doubt that a combination of early Ebola virus infection and fatigue resulting from a busy nightshift followed by a lengthy journey [from Sierra Leone] would have impaired Pauline’s judgment at the time of entering the screening process at Heathrow airport.” | A submission from a medical expert, a Dr Thomson, said: “I have no doubt that a combination of early Ebola virus infection and fatigue resulting from a busy nightshift followed by a lengthy journey [from Sierra Leone] would have impaired Pauline’s judgment at the time of entering the screening process at Heathrow airport.” |
| The panel also heard about serious deficiencies in the way that Public Health England managed its Heathrow screening facility. | The panel also heard about serious deficiencies in the way that Public Health England managed its Heathrow screening facility. |
| Cafferkey came close to death twice – the first time after being diagnosed in Scotland. She was flown to London to be treated in a special tented Ebola isolation unit at the Royal Free hospital. | Cafferkey came close to death twice – the first time after being diagnosed in Scotland. She was flown to London to be treated in a special tented Ebola isolation unit at the Royal Free hospital. |
| Last October, she developed meningitis as a result of the Ebola virus and was transferred once again to the Royal Free, where her condition became critical for a time before she eventually recovered. | Last October, she developed meningitis as a result of the Ebola virus and was transferred once again to the Royal Free, where her condition became critical for a time before she eventually recovered. |
| David Cameron announced in February 2015 that NHS staff who had volunteered to work with Ebola in west Africa would be awarded a special medal, but Cafferkey did not accept it because she felt it was inappropriate in light of the ongoing investigation. | David Cameron announced in February 2015 that NHS staff who had volunteered to work with Ebola in west Africa would be awarded a special medal, but Cafferkey did not accept it because she felt it was inappropriate in light of the ongoing investigation. |
| Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, responded to the news that Cafferkey had been cleared on Twitter: | |
| Sending my very best wishes to Pauline Cafferkey. Her bravery is an inspiration to all of us. https://t.co/zrVIuODCQ5 | |
| The Scottish parliament’s former presiding officer Tricia Marwick described the case as “disgraceful”, tweeting: “Those responsible for bringing these charges need to take a hard look at themselves.” |