Nurse did not escalate baby concerns, panel hears

A children's nurse has been struck off from practising after the regulator found serious care failings.

Elzabeth Lennon, a children's nurse working in Northampton, was reviewed by a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Fitness to Practise Committee over care provided in March 2022.

The panel previously found she failed to carry out regular checks of a cannula location, did not properly respond to repeated infusion pump alarms, and did not escalate concerns for "Baby A", a vulnerable baby when required.

"Mrs Lennon's actions breached fundamental tenets of the profession, pose an ongoing risk to patient safety and would be deemed concerning by the members of the public," the panel said.

An initial 12-month suspension was imposed by a different NMC panel, alongside a requirement for Lennon to attend future hearings and submit a reflective statement addressing the findings.

But she did not attend the first review or provide any documents.

Subsequently, the panel extended the suspension by a further six months with the same requirements.

The panel said Lennon had "addressed how she would handle a similar situation differently in the future", and accepted her statement that, although she made mistakes, she believed she was acting in Baby A's best interests.

However, the NMC panel found she had not shown a full understanding of the seriousness of her misconduct or its impact on colleagues and the nursing profession.

Because of this, the panel said there was an "ongoing risk of repetition", and so "a finding of impairment is necessary on the grounds of public protection".

The decision was issued on 23 March and the striking-off order is due to take effect on 23 April.

Until then, Lennon remains suspended from practising and is not permitted to work as a nurse.

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