Shropshire nurse cleared of misconduct by NMC panel

Wendy Gilbert admitted that, between April 13 and May 3 of 2020, she signed inaccurate timesheets for Sophie Roberts and that on or around June 14, 2020, she signed off Ms Roberts’ final assessment without being a registered assessor.

She denied signing off the final assessment with incomplete or inaccurate information relating to Ms Roberts’ sickness absence.

A Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) fitness to practice panel found that the charge was proven but that Ms Gilbert’s actions were not dishonest, and did not amount to misconduct.

The incident relates to the time Ms Gilbert and Ms Roberts worked at the Shropshire and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH).

Ms Gilbert, now deputy manager at Stretton Nursing Home, was a Band 6 nurse at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital when Ms Roberts was brought in to help during the Covid pandemic.

When tasked with filling out Ms Roberts’ final assessment, Ms Gilbert said she thought it was in relation to her role as a Band 4 nurse rather than as a student nurse.

The panel heard that, despite Ms Roberts being off sick at times during her placement, the signed-off form said she was never absent.

Ms Roberts admitted that she filled them in herself at the start of the placement by inputting zeros, and said it was a naïve thing to do.

Ms Gilbert said she didn’t see that part of the form when she signed it, adding she did not realise that some sections asked her to comment on Ms Roberts’ sickness and absence record.

Representing the NMC, Leesha Whawell said that Ms Gilbert’s actions amounted to misconduct.

“Signing those documents with inaccurate or incomplete information could have led to a person who had not yet been deemed competent to be allowed to register as a nurse,” said Ms Whawell.

Ms Gilbert said she made an error of judgement, misunderstanding the document due to the information given to her and as the student was working on the ward as a Band 4 member.

She said she did not think she had done anything wrong at the time, but later felt significant concern after the matter was raised, adding there had been no intention to mislead or falsify information but that she accepted her actions meant the documents could not be relied upon as fully accurate.

She added that the matter has had a "considerable impact" on her wellbeing, causing ongoing stress.

Ms Gilbert said she understands assumptions can lead to errors and that professional accountability ultimately sits with her, and said she now always clarifies her role and responsibility before completing documentation, cross checks all information, and involves senior management or staff when appropriate.