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Nurse sentenced for patient abuse Nurse sentenced for patient abuse
(about 1 hour later)
A nurse who abused two 87-year-old men with dementia at a Cardiff hospital has been given a suspended prison sentence.A nurse who abused two 87-year-old men with dementia at a Cardiff hospital has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Penelope Webber, 52, of Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, was found guilty of two counts of ill treatment and one of neglect at Cardiff Crown Court. Penelope Rees, 52, whose surname used to be Webber, was found guilty of two counts of ill treatment and one of neglect at Cardiff Crown Court.
She wrestled one patient and knelt on another's chest at Whitchurch Hospital and received a sentence of six months, suspended for two years. Rees, of Aberdare, wrestled one patient and force fed medication to another at Whitchurch Hospital.
Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board is conducting an inquiry. She received a sentence of six months, suspended for two years. The local health board is investigating.
The nurse was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 19 and later paranoia. The court heard that Rees was diagnosed at 19 with bipolar effective disorder with associated psychosis and once believed she was made of plastic and was going to melt.
He put up a good wrestle but I was too strong for him Penelope Webber comment on her treatment of an 87-year-old patientHe put up a good wrestle but I was too strong for him Penelope Webber comment on her treatment of an 87-year-old patient
After she was found guilty last month, Judge Stephen Hopkins QC demanded an investigation into how a nurse with a history of mental illness was employed to look after patients with dementia. Judge Stephen Hopkins QC has demanded an investigation into how a nurse with a history of mental illness was employed to look after patients with dementia.
He said that at the time of the offences in February, she was totally unfit to be a nurse in any hospital, let alone a psychiatric hospital. Speaking as he sentenced her "I don't think anyone who suffers as Penny Rees suffers from her own psychiatric problems was best placed to be a nurse in such stressful conditions. I'm very surprised."
Broken tablets He said Rees had become "lazy and indifferent" to her patients.
The court heard how Webber was caught when another member of staff heard a commotion coming from the room of one of the patients at the hospital. "You had lost the most important quality of nursing - you stopped caring for those you were employed to care for," he told her.
Prosecutor Sue Thomas said as he drew back the curtain he saw Webber leaning on top of the patient. "Dementia sufferers never lose the right to be treated with dignity and care. You failed elderly men in both regards."
"She had one knee on the bed and one knee on his chest, there was a cream liquid all over his head and broken tablets in his hair," she said. Along with the suspended sentence, he imposed a supervision requirement for the next two years on the nurse and ordered that she be electronically tagged as part of a curfew requirement between the hours of 8pm and 8am.
"Mr Morgan asked what she was doing and Webber said: 'He had refused to take his medication'." The court heard Rees is also due to face a hearing of the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Allegations first surfaced in January when another commotion was heard on a ward for which Webber was responsible. Cut lip
The court was told a second patient was seen with a bleeding lip and skin tears on his elbow. The trial had been told how Rees, of Ystradfellte, Aberdare, was seen kneeling on top of one elderly man, force-feeding him medicine when he refused it.
When asked what had happened to him, Webber replied: "He put up a good wrestle but I was too strong for him." Another patient she was in charge of was spotted with a cut lip and skin tears on one arm after she had been at his bedside during an overnight shift on January 27.
Webber had worked as a nurse for 20 years but is now suspended. The court heard Rees was asked by Nursing Assistant Ross Morgan what happened to the patient.
The local health board later previously issued a statement saying: "The concerns of those involved were picked up under our care of vulnerable adult procedures and we took immediate action to safeguard our patients. The prosecution said she told him: "He put up a good wrestle but I was too strong for him."
"We take our responsibilities to our staff and patients very seriously, and place their care and safety at the top of our agenda." Rees had worked as a nurse for 20 years but is now suspended.
Ruth Walker, nurse director at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said patient safety was a priority.
"The concerns of those involved were picked up under our care of vulnerable adult procedures and we took immediate action to safeguard our patients," she said.
"We take our responsibilities to our staff and patients very seriously, and place their care and safety at the top of our agenda.
"We will, as a matter of standard, finalise our investigation and take the appropriate action now the court proceedings have come to an end."