NASSER: NURSE AT DEATH HOSPITAL CALLED AUSTISTIC CHILD A ‘LAZY BUGGER’
A children’s health worker who called an autistic youngster a ‘lazy little bugger’ has been told to attend a course to improve his communication skills.
Mohammed Naseer, who fitted braces and splints for injured or disabled children, was hauled before a disciplinary hearing after parents complained about his rudeness.
On another occasion, he told a young patient to ‘stop being silly’ after hearing complaints about his work.
The Health Professionals Council (HPC) heard he also made a series of errors in his work as an ‘orthotist’, leaving children with ill-fitting ankle and foot supports and splints.
Naseer’s official registration was placed under a series of conditions after the HPC’s conduct and competence committee ruled that his fitness to practice was impaired .
Committee chairman Ian Griffiths told him the measures were ‘necessary for the protection of the public and in the wider public interest.’
The panel ordered that over the next 18 months, he will have to undergo a course in paediatric communication skills, and forward the results to the HPC.
He will also have to undergo supervision and will not be able to work with children without direct supervision from another orthotist.
Naseer will also have to produce an orthotists’ report on his communication skills, and must inform any organisation he works with of the conditions he is under.
Mr Griffiths said: ‘The matters we are dealing with mostly concern children, mostly with long term orthotic problems.
‘Healthcare professionals must be especially patient and understanding [when dealing with such patients.]’
In the course of the hearing the panel heard evidence from workers from the Stafford General Hospital, where Naseer was on placement from leading private orthotics firm RSL Steeper Ltd.
At the time covered by the allegations in August and September 2009, he worked from the Cannock Chase Appliance Unit, while his work also covered Burton, Tamworth and Lichfield.
The panel heard that he had been rude to parents of patients, on one occasion ‘calling an autistic child a lazy little bugger.’
In his account to the panel Naseer claimed that he was in a difficult situation at Stafford, working long hours with little supervision or clerical back up.
Mr Griffiths said the committee accepted that Naseer was working in a ‘chaotic’ environment but added: ‘Even accepting the difficult situation the registrant found himself in, his conduct fell far below the standard required.’
While the panel found the HPC’s witnesses to be ‘truthful’, Naseer’s evidence was ‘vague and circuitous.’
He added that there was ‘no evidence’ that at the time covered by the charges Naseer had any experience of the ‘highly specialised area of paediatric orthotics.
Mr Griffiths said the panel took the view that his clinical deficiencies arose out of this lack of experience and skills.
Naseer, who is now based in Manchester, admitted a number of allegations about his conduct, but denied others.
After hearing the evidence, the panel found the majority of the remaining charges proved, finding the rest unproved.
The charges related to errors when fitting orthotic equipment to children and his demeanour and attitude towards patients
ENDS
