A MENTAL health nurse at the Royal Blackburn Hospital will appear at an official hearing after being charged with three counts of alleged misconduct.

Iain Reginald Fletcher, formerly a band 5 staff nurse on ward L3 of the Hillview section of the hospital, will appear before the Nursing and Midwifery Council next week, facing claims that he acted inappropriately with vulnerable patients.

The allegations in relation to Patient A are that he displayed that he was angry or irritated by the patient, and that he said: “Have you finished with your OCDs”, or words to that effect.

He is also alleged to have stated to agency staff: “All these people that are a pain should be shoved in PICU (Paediatric Intensive Care Unit)”, or words to that effect. It is also claimed that Mr Fletcher told Patient A that she had ‘better behave herself’, spoke in an aggressive way, and said to the patient: “I am warning you… get out of my space,” or words to that effect.

Secondly, he is alleged to have spoken inappropriately and/or used offensive language while referring to previous experience of restraining a patient, swearing on more than one occasion.

Thirdly, while preparing a Christmas hamper, he is alleged to have thrown a Christmas cake into the hamper, said that the hamper was ‘crap’ and/or ‘rubbish’, and spoke in an aggressive and/or inappropriate manner to Patient C.

All incidents of misconduct are alleged to have occurred on or about November 24, 2009.

The hearing will take place on Monday, August 6, at the Midland Hotel in Peter Street, Manchester.