UK NMC Expels Nigerian Nurse Adekemi Adefidiya for Patient Neglect, Working at One Hospital While on Sick Leave From Another

A Nigerian nurse, Adekemi Adefidiya, has been permanently removed from the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register following a panel hearing that found her guilty of patient neglect and dishonesty for working at one hospital while on sick leave from another.

The decision comes after Adefidiya failed to disclose previous employment history when applying to Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, a leading cardiac and thoracic care facility. Records show she omitted her tenure at Barts Health NHS Trust, where she had received a final written warning for gross misconduct.

The NMC panel also found that Adefidiya worked shifts at Homerton Hospital while on sick leave from Barts, an act deemed deliberately dishonest.

Her professional shortcomings extended to patient care, including neglecting critical hourly observations for a vulnerable patient under palliative care at Thornbury Community Services. The panel ruled that her explanations were inconsistent and insufficient for a qualified nurse.

Further lapses included failure to conduct daily emergency equipment checks and omission of required clinical procedures at Barts Health NHS Trust’s intensive care unit.

 Despite receiving extended supervision and support, the panel concluded that her performance did not meet the expected standards of a Band 5 nurse handling level two and three critical care patients.

The striking-off order, the most severe sanction by the NMC, permanently bars Adefidiya from practicing as a registered nurse in the UK. The regulator emphasized that the decision was necessary to uphold patient safety and professional integrity within the healthcare system.

The case has sparked discussion on professional ethics and the responsibilities of healthcare workers, highlighting the rigorous standards upheld by UK regulatory bodies and the consequences of misconduct for international nurses.

Story credit: fellow nurses