SEVEN nurses and their boss are being probed over claims they left a student to look after dementia patients while they went outside for fag breaks.
The student nurse reported their conduct to health chiefs after keeping a diary of their smoking habits.
He claimed almost the entire nursing team in the dementia ward at Glasgow’s Stobhill Hospital popped outside for half-hour cigarette breaks together three to four times a day, leaving him to care for the vulnerable, elderly patients on his own.
Last night NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde confirmed a probe had been launched.
A board spokeswoman said: “We received a complaint from a student nurse on levels of supervision and we have begun an investigation. We take the care of dementia patients very seriously. If any breach of policy is confirmed it will be dealt with appropriately.”
The student refused to speak for fear of repercussions but a friend told the Record that he reported the nurses because he was “horrified” by what he saw during his month-long stint at Stobhill.
She said: “He was shocked and horrified by what he saw and kept a diary of their cigarette breaks, how long they lasted, how many they took and also who was left in the ward to look after the patients.
“They would all go out together, including the nurse manager, for half-hour cigarette breaks three to four times a day, leaving him on his own.
“These are very vulnerable patients. There are some poor souls on that ward who need round-the-clock care.
“He felt he had no choice but to report them.
“He feared that if he spoke out in public about this, that would be the end to his nursing career but he felt he had to report it for the sake of the patients.
“In my opinion, they are not fit to be in the job because they care more about feeding their cigarette habit than looking after their patients.”
source: dailyrecord.co.uk
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