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| Doctor who took Pauline Cafferkey's temperature faces disciplinary panel | Doctor who took Pauline Cafferkey's temperature faces disciplinary panel |
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| A doctor who took Pauline Cafferkey’s temperature hours before she was diagnosed with Ebola is facing a disciplinary hearing next year, it has emerged. | A doctor who took Pauline Cafferkey’s temperature hours before she was diagnosed with Ebola is facing a disciplinary hearing next year, it has emerged. |
| Hannah Ryan, who volunteered in Sierra Leone in her first year after graduating from medical school, will appear before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) over the airport screening of Cafferkey following her return to the UK in 2014. | Hannah Ryan, who volunteered in Sierra Leone in her first year after graduating from medical school, will appear before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) over the airport screening of Cafferkey following her return to the UK in 2014. |
| Ryan’s referral emerged as she was giving evidence in the case of another volunteer medic, Donna Wood, who is accused of concealing Cafferkey’s elevated temperature before she became ill. | Ryan’s referral emerged as she was giving evidence in the case of another volunteer medic, Donna Wood, who is accused of concealing Cafferkey’s elevated temperature before she became ill. |
| Wood, a senior nurse with more than 30 years’ experience, was described as a “hero” by the former international development secretary Justine Greening in a government promotional campaign. But she now faces being struck off over claims she recorded Cafferkey’s temperature as normal during a “chaotic” screening at Heathrow airport on 28 December. | Wood, a senior nurse with more than 30 years’ experience, was described as a “hero” by the former international development secretary Justine Greening in a government promotional campaign. But she now faces being struck off over claims she recorded Cafferkey’s temperature as normal during a “chaotic” screening at Heathrow airport on 28 December. |
| In September, Cafferkey, who twice nearly died from the virus, was cleared of misconduct over the recording of her temperature. | In September, Cafferkey, who twice nearly died from the virus, was cleared of misconduct over the recording of her temperature. |
| A raised temperature can be the first sign of Ebola, and Cafferkey went on to develop one of the worst cases on record for people treated in the west. | A raised temperature can be the first sign of Ebola, and Cafferkey went on to develop one of the worst cases on record for people treated in the west. |
| At the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in Stratford, east London, on Monday, Wood faced three misconduct charges. She allegedly recorded a temperature 1C lower than it was during a screening process at Heathrow, was “dishonest” because she knew this was wrong, and failed to escalate the potential marker for Ebola appropriately. | At the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in Stratford, east London, on Monday, Wood faced three misconduct charges. She allegedly recorded a temperature 1C lower than it was during a screening process at Heathrow, was “dishonest” because she knew this was wrong, and failed to escalate the potential marker for Ebola appropriately. |
| Opening the hearing, the case presenter, Aja Hall, told an NMC panel that Cafferkey’s temperature had been taken by Ryan, who had returned from Sierra Leone with Wood and Cafferkey. | Opening the hearing, the case presenter, Aja Hall, told an NMC panel that Cafferkey’s temperature had been taken by Ryan, who had returned from Sierra Leone with Wood and Cafferkey. |
| The first reading from her left ear was 38.2C – above the average body temperature of 37C and higher than the threshold of 37.5C that requires further assessment by a consultant in infectious diseases. | The first reading from her left ear was 38.2C – above the average body temperature of 37C and higher than the threshold of 37.5C that requires further assessment by a consultant in infectious diseases. |
| Ryan had stated that she was in “shock” after taking Cafferkey’s temperature in her left and right ears and finding it raised, Hall said. “I told her to stay calm, we were both a bit panicky,” said Ryan. | Ryan had stated that she was in “shock” after taking Cafferkey’s temperature in her left and right ears and finding it raised, Hall said. “I told her to stay calm, we were both a bit panicky,” said Ryan. |
| The hearing was told that an elevated temperature was considered the body’s first reaction to Ebola, which can kill within five days. | The hearing was told that an elevated temperature was considered the body’s first reaction to Ebola, which can kill within five days. |
| “I asked Pauline if she was feeling OK? She said she was feeling fine,” Ryan told the hearing in a written witness statement. “I stood there in shock. It was like I was paralysed. I had no clear thought process. Ebola is such a horrible disease that every time you have a high temperature you worry, even when you know there’s no reason to.” | “I asked Pauline if she was feeling OK? She said she was feeling fine,” Ryan told the hearing in a written witness statement. “I stood there in shock. It was like I was paralysed. I had no clear thought process. Ebola is such a horrible disease that every time you have a high temperature you worry, even when you know there’s no reason to.” |
| Ryan said only the three medics were present and that Wood “broke the inertia by saying something like, ‘I’m just going to write it down as 37.2 degrees’” so they could “get out of here and sort it out”. | Ryan said only the three medics were present and that Wood “broke the inertia by saying something like, ‘I’m just going to write it down as 37.2 degrees’” so they could “get out of here and sort it out”. |
| The three medics had returned to a screening area described by various witnesses as “busy, dangerous and even chaotic by some of those present”, Hall said. | The three medics had returned to a screening area described by various witnesses as “busy, dangerous and even chaotic by some of those present”, Hall said. |
| They had been asked to fill in a Public Health England (PHE) form and wait for a PHE medic to take their temperature. Amid the chaos, they decided to record their own temperatures, the hearing heard. | They had been asked to fill in a Public Health England (PHE) form and wait for a PHE medic to take their temperature. Amid the chaos, they decided to record their own temperatures, the hearing heard. |
| Cafferkey was subsequently allowed to leave the screening area and enter the arrivals section because her form did not state that her temperature was above 38C. At some point Cafferkey had taken paracetamol, the NMC panel heard. | Cafferkey was subsequently allowed to leave the screening area and enter the arrivals section because her form did not state that her temperature was above 38C. At some point Cafferkey had taken paracetamol, the NMC panel heard. |
| Ryan meanwhile informed Dr Sharon Irvine, another volunteer doctor returning from Sierra Leone. Irvine questioned Cafferkey about her temperature and urged her not to fly on to Glasgow. | Ryan meanwhile informed Dr Sharon Irvine, another volunteer doctor returning from Sierra Leone. Irvine questioned Cafferkey about her temperature and urged her not to fly on to Glasgow. |
| Cafferkey returned to the screening area where her temperature was taken three more times. Only one of those readings was above the threshold of 37.5C and she was allowed to fly home. | Cafferkey returned to the screening area where her temperature was taken three more times. Only one of those readings was above the threshold of 37.5C and she was allowed to fly home. |
| That night Cafferkey fell seriously ill and it later emerged that she had one of the highest Ebola virus loads on record. | That night Cafferkey fell seriously ill and it later emerged that she had one of the highest Ebola virus loads on record. |
| The NMC claims Wood’s “fitness to practise is impaired by reason of your misconduct”. Wood’s counsel, Ben Rich, denied the charges on her behalf. | The NMC claims Wood’s “fitness to practise is impaired by reason of your misconduct”. Wood’s counsel, Ben Rich, denied the charges on her behalf. |
| The hearing was told Cafferkey had felt warm on the plane but later said she had been joking. The volunteers on the plane with her, including Wood, had “ascribed it to her sleeping in a hoodie”. | The hearing was told Cafferkey had felt warm on the plane but later said she had been joking. The volunteers on the plane with her, including Wood, had “ascribed it to her sleeping in a hoodie”. |
| In 2014, Wood, who works at Haywood hospital in Burslem, Staffordshire, was the face of the government’s campaign to get volunteers to work in Sierra Leone to help stop the spread of the worst Ebola outbreak in history. Greening said at the time: “These NHS heroes, like Donna, spending Christmas on the Ebola treatment wards are an absolutely essential part of our efforts to contain, control and defeat this terrible disease.” | In 2014, Wood, who works at Haywood hospital in Burslem, Staffordshire, was the face of the government’s campaign to get volunteers to work in Sierra Leone to help stop the spread of the worst Ebola outbreak in history. Greening said at the time: “These NHS heroes, like Donna, spending Christmas on the Ebola treatment wards are an absolutely essential part of our efforts to contain, control and defeat this terrible disease.” |
| In evidence, Ryan admitted becoming “nervous” about the group’s decision to allow an incorrect temperature to be recorded when Cafferkey was initially screened. “I was worried about Pauline, I was worried about Donna, I was worried about myself. I know what we had done wasn’t right and it may lead to difficulties,” she told the hearing. | In evidence, Ryan admitted becoming “nervous” about the group’s decision to allow an incorrect temperature to be recorded when Cafferkey was initially screened. “I was worried about Pauline, I was worried about Donna, I was worried about myself. I know what we had done wasn’t right and it may lead to difficulties,” she told the hearing. |
| Ryan told the independent panel that by the time she got to the arrivals hall she knew that they could not leave the airport and informed another volunteer, Sharon Irvine, who was a registrar in infectious diseases, of the elevated temperature. On Irvine’s advice, Cafferkey was taken back to the screening area. | |
| Ryan denied allegations put to her by Wood’s counsel that emails she had exchanged with Cafferkey were intended to “collude or contaminate” evidence. | Ryan denied allegations put to her by Wood’s counsel that emails she had exchanged with Cafferkey were intended to “collude or contaminate” evidence. |
| Ryan, who works at the Royal Liverpool hospital, is under investigation by the General Medical Council and is scheduled to appear before the MPTS next March. | Ryan, who works at the Royal Liverpool hospital, is under investigation by the General Medical Council and is scheduled to appear before the MPTS next March. |
| Wood’s misconduct hearing, which is scheduled to last until 25 November, continues. | Wood’s misconduct hearing, which is scheduled to last until 25 November, continues. |