MASON:NURSE FAILED TO CALL SOCIAL SERVICES AFTER GIRL TURNED UP WITH MAN

A sexual health nurse failed to call social services when a 13-year-old girl turned up at her clinic accompanied by an unknown man, a tribunal heard.

Barbara Mason did not inform the local child protection team about the ‘very concerning’ case, despite guidelines stating she should do so, the Nursing and Midwifery Council was told.

On the same day she also breached guidelines by giving a contraceptive injection to a 14-year-old girl with special needs, it was claimed.
 
It is further alleged that she kept inadequate patient records, and prescribed a birth control pill to a woman who suffered from migraines – again in contravention of official guidance.

Mason appeared before the NMC’s Conduct and Competence Committee for a hearing to decide on her professional future.
 
If the panel rules that her fitness to practice is impaired by misconduct, she could be suspended or even thrown out of the profession.

At the time of her alleged misconduct between April and June 2008, Mason worked as a sexual health nurse at a clinic attached to the Samuel Johnson Hospital in Lichfield.

She subsequently moved on to work in Birmingham.

Heather Johnstone, then head of governance and engagement at the South Staffordshire PCT, told the hearing she investigated Mason’s work after a doctor raised concerns over the 13-year-old patient – referred to only as Patient 5.

She subsequently discovered inadequacies in the nurse’s record keeping for other patients, the panel heard.

Mrs Johnstone said the case of Patient 5 was ‘very concerning’ and ‘related to child protection issues.’

The patient attended the clinic on 19 May, 2008, accompanied by an unknown man.
 
She said she had recently had unprotected sexual intercourse and had not had a period since.

The panel heard Mason’s notes of the consultation did not adequately record the youngsters’ sexual and medical history and did not record contact details beyond her home address.

They also failed to identify her male companion and did not give his age or who he claimed to be.

Mason also failed to document whether the patient’s competence to receive sexual health advice and treatment had been discussed, and what advice had been given to her about follow-up or pregnancy, it was said.

Mrs Johnstone said the girl had come to the clinic because she ‘did not get on with the school nurse, and would not see her.’

She said that she would expect this to be addressed, and said the patient ‘could have been referred to child protection.’

‘The fact that the male companion is unknown and hardly said a word should have prompted a discussion and referral to child protection.’

Mrs Johnstone said the relevant guidelines for nurses stated that ‘all staff should take appropriate action whenever they are suspicious that child abuse has taken place.’

This was also set out in Section 47 of the Children’s Act, the panel heard.

The hearing was told that also on May 19, 2008, another teenage girl came to the clinic, where Mason prescribed her a ‘Depo-Provera’ contraceptive injection.

Mrs Johnstone told the hearing that guidelines state the treatment should not normally be given to patients under the age of 16, whereas the girl in this case was 14 and had ‘special needs.’

Mason also failed to document whether the girl’s competence to receive sexual health advice and treatment had been discussed.

It is further alleged that she did not fully record her consultations with the teenager’s stepfather.

Mason is also said to have made inadequate records in relation to three other patients, and to have prescribed the birth control pill Microgynon to a fourth.

Mrs Johnstone said this patient suffered from ‘focal migraines’, and that the prescription was therefore contrary to British nationl Formulary guidelines.

Mason faces formal charges over her treatment of six different patients.

She has admitted inadequate note taking in relation to five of the patients, and has admitted to all of the facts in relation to Patient 5: the 13-year-old girl.

She denies further charges over medical records, as well as the two allegations that she prescribed birth control drugs inappropriately.

The hearing continues.
ENDS