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Secret filming nurse struck off Secret filming nurse struck off
(10 minutes later)
A nurse who secretly filmed for the BBC to reveal the neglect of elderly patients at a hospital has been struck off for misconduct.A nurse who secretly filmed for the BBC to reveal the neglect of elderly patients at a hospital has been struck off for misconduct.
Margaret Haywood, 58, filmed at the Royal Sussex Hospital in Brighton for a BBC Panorama programme in July 2005.Margaret Haywood, 58, filmed at the Royal Sussex Hospital in Brighton for a BBC Panorama programme in July 2005.
She was struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council on Thursday after being a nurse for more than 20 years.She was struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council on Thursday after being a nurse for more than 20 years.
The panel said she "followed the behest of the filmmakers... rather than her obligations as a nurse".The panel said she "followed the behest of the filmmakers... rather than her obligations as a nurse".
Ms Haywood, of Liverpool, said: "I was convinced that it was the right thing to do at the time as, in fact, I had reported the issues and nothing had been done.Ms Haywood, of Liverpool, said: "I was convinced that it was the right thing to do at the time as, in fact, I had reported the issues and nothing had been done.
"I felt I owed it to the people on the ward.""I felt I owed it to the people on the ward."
'Suspended her obligations' 'Major conduct breach'
She was found guilty of misconduct on Wednesday following a fitness to practise hearing.She was found guilty of misconduct on Wednesday following a fitness to practise hearing.
The chair of the panel, Linda Read, said Ms Haywood had prioritised the filming and did not fulfil her obligations as a nurse.The chair of the panel, Linda Read, said Ms Haywood had prioritised the filming and did not fulfil her obligations as a nurse.
But the chair added that Ms Haywood had "suspended her obligations ... to protect and support the health of individual patients". "In the view of the panel, this was a major breach of the code of conduct.
"A patient should be able to trust a nurse with his/her physical condition and psychological wellbeing without that confidential information being disclosed to others.
"Although the conditions on the ward were dreadful, it was not necessary to breach confidentiality to seek to improve them by the method chosen.
She said the misconduct was "fundamentally incompatible with being a nurse".
"The registrant embarked upon filming many vulnerable, elderly patients in the last stages of their lives, knowing that it was unlikely that they would be able to give any meaningful consent to that process, in circumstances where their dignity was most compromised.
"The registrant could have attempted to address shortcomings by other means. But this was never a course of action which she fully considered."
Ms Haywood had admitted breaching patient confidentiality but denied her fitness to practise had been impaired.Ms Haywood had admitted breaching patient confidentiality but denied her fitness to practise had been impaired.
Elizabeth Bloor, the BBC programme's producer, told the hearing there had been "an over-arching public interest" to produce the Undercover Nurse documentary because Panorama had received up to 5,000 complaints about conditions.Elizabeth Bloor, the BBC programme's producer, told the hearing there had been "an over-arching public interest" to produce the Undercover Nurse documentary because Panorama had received up to 5,000 complaints about conditions.
She also said that questions had been asked in the House of Commons about the issues investigated, and the Royal College of Nursing conducted research into patient dignity on hospital wards in the wake of its broadcast.She also said that questions had been asked in the House of Commons about the issues investigated, and the Royal College of Nursing conducted research into patient dignity on hospital wards in the wake of its broadcast.
In November the panel found no evidence that Ms Haywood broke the NHS Trust's policy on whistle-blowing by raising concerns about patient care in the documentary, or that she failed to assist colleagues when a patient was having a seizure.In November the panel found no evidence that Ms Haywood broke the NHS Trust's policy on whistle-blowing by raising concerns about patient care in the documentary, or that she failed to assist colleagues when a patient was having a seizure.