A NURSE who worked at a Burnley care home, once banned for failing to act promptly after a patient was found collapsed, has been allowed to return to the profession.

Richard Lim is coming to the end of a five-month suspension, imposed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, over the September 2013 incident at the Bupa-run home, off Colne Road.

Lim was stood down by a misconduct panel last June after he failed to call 999 when a patient fell seriously ill at Dove Court, as well as not carrying out resuscitation or basic observations.

He was initially placed under restricted conditions of practice but this was replaced with a suspension, after it was found he been subjected to disciplinary action at a new employer in Cardiff.

Lim was also found to have failed to meet his line manager for regular monthly reviews of his progress and submitted a “rushed” development plan for the regulator.

Appearing for a fresh review, the nurse submitted a reflective statement, a supportive letter from his current employer and a first aid certificate.

He told the hearing he was “very sorry” for what happened in 2013, especially for the family of the patient, and admitted he had become “overconfident” in his practice.

Lim, who now works as a care assistant, said he now appreciated he should have called 999, instead of an out-of-hours service, and made proper checks for signs of life.

But he insisted he had learned from his mistakes and had shared his experiences with colleagues, so they would not make the same errors in future.

Imposing fresh conditions on his practice, review panel chairman Cheryl Beach said: “Your misconduct was serious however there has been evidence to show that you have some insight, have taken steps to remediate, and that you wished to return to nursing.”

The conditions, including drawing up another development plan and remaining under supervision, will come into force when his suspension runs out in early December.