AN elderly man with dementia was left suffering from hypothermia after being allowed to leave an East Lancashire care home in the early hours, a health watchdog heard.

The 72-year-old walked out of Mapleford Nursing Home in Huncoat, in rain and sleet conditions, and was found lying in the garden five-and-a-half hours later by a healthcare assistant, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) was told.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Now Paula Jean Gilbert, the nurse in charge of the night shift at the Bolton Avenue home, on the night in January 2016, has been struck off following a misconduct hearing in London.

An investigation by her bosses saw CCTV footage produced showing Gilbert taking smoking breaks on at least eight occasions - including one after the man had been found in the garden.

Lara Akande, for the NMC, said the home resident, who suffered from Korsakoff dementia and was not named, was taken to hospital after being discovered.

He was found wearing only his pyjamas and socks, after walking out an unlocked back door at around 1.30am on January 31.

Doctors treated the man for pneumonia and he remained on a ward for nine days, the hearing was told.

Miss Akande said earlier that night the same resident had suffered a fall in the smoking room.

But there was no records of any enhanced checks being carried out on his welfare that night, nor did she instruct any colleagues to look out for him, she added.

Gilbert, who was not present at the hearing, admitted to six misconduct offences, also including not carrying out adequate regular night-time checks on a total of 20 residents.

The NMC panel was told that when Gilbert was confronted by bosses, during their prove into the incident, she denied going outside to smoke.

But when CCTV footage of her leaving the premises was played, she said: “If it is on CCTV I have no excuses.”

Striking Gilbert off the register, misconduct panel chairman John Weeden, said: “This is not a single instance of misconduct but rather a case of multiple failures in relation to security checks, patient safety, and supervision, staffing levels, record keeping and dishonesty.”