Career over for nurse after patient death

A nurse has been suspended for a year for failing to protect a vulnerable patient who ended up killing himself.

David Merry failed to escalate concerns about Richard Copithorne while working for the mental health team in Worthing, West Sussex.

Merry was in charge of safeguarding the 41-year-old and liaising with police and social services to ensure his safety.

Mr Copithorne had been exploited by various criminals and an individual had moved into his flat and stolen his bank card, the Nursing and Midwifery Council heard.

Merry ignored concerns raised by Mr Copithorne, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia or by Mr Copithorne’s father.

Merry kept incomplete records, didn’t share concerns with others or attempt to work with police and other agencies.

Mr Copithorne died after throwing himself from the 11th floor of the Teville Gate car park in Worthing, on 23 July 2013.

Merry had not attempted to contact the patient under his care for five months, the hearing was told.

An inquest in 2015 heard the ‘petrified’ patient had called police to tell them who had taken his credit card was outside his house just hours before he died.

A jury found that Mr Copithorne’s death was the result of ‘failings’ by the NHS Trust and police.

Sophie Stannard, for, told the panel that there was a ‘risk to the public’.

NMC panel chair Mary Monnington said: ‘Although it is accepted that competence concerns are generally remediable, there is no evidence before the panel to suggest that Mr Merry has remediated his practice.

‘Ms Stannard also submitted that insight is an important concept when considering impairment and there is no evidence to suggest that Mr Merry has insight into his lack of competence.

‘For these reasons, the panel were invited to find Mr Merry’s fitness to practise is currently impaired on the grounds of public protection and public interest.

‘Taking into account the reasons given by the panel for the findings of the facts, together with the number of separate incidents evidencing Mr Merry’s inability to meet the expected competencies, the panel has concluded that Mr Merry’s practice fell far short of the standard that one would expect of the reasonably competent Registered Nurse acting in the role that Mr Merry was in.

‘In all the circumstances, the panel determined that Mr Merry’s performance demonstrated a clear lack of competence.

‘The panel is of the view that there is a risk of repetition based on the fact that Mr Merry has not remediated his failings.

‘The panel therefore decided that a finding of impairment is necessary on the grounds of public protection.’

Merry was not present and not represented at the hearing.
ends