A CARE worker who assaulted a Parkinson’s sufferer and subjected her to crude pranks has been struck off.
Nurse Clarisa Bartolome was working at privately-owned Crimond House near Fraserburgh when she mistreated the pensioner.
The 42-year-old claimed her victim made allegations against her because she was “confused”.
But a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) disciplinary panel found two charges against her proven and struck her off.
She will not be able to apply to rejoin the nursing register for five years.
The allegations against Bartolome covered a period between 2010-13.
It was alleged she had placed a banana on the resident’s bed in case she got “lonely through the night”.
She claimed the incident had been a private joke between her and her victim.
She was also accused of grabbing the residents arm and shaking her during a nightshift.
She indicated to the panel that the victim made the allegation because she was confused, but other staff at the care home testified this was not the case.
The NMC ruled both charges had been proven, but also decided another allegation – that Bartolome had thrown jelly babies or sweets at her victim – had not been proven.
The NMC said in a report: “The panel concluded that striking-off is the only sanction which is sufficient to protect the public interest, and that public confidence in the profession and the NMC will only be sustained if Mrs Bartolome is removed from the register.”
Bartolome, who stays at Crimond near the care home where the incidents happened, initially denied all the charges against her, but later admitted placing a banana on the resident’s pillow, claiming it was “a private joke”.
She declined to comment yesterday.
A spokeswoman for Meallmore Ltd, which owns Crimond House, said: “When this incident arose, the individual in question was suspended from their role with immediate effect.
“Following an internal investigation, she was dismissed from her role in September 2013 and hasn’t worked for the company since.
“We take matters like this seriously and the safety, security and comfort of the residents in all our homes across Scotland is always our top priority.”
The NMC added: “The panel took into account the nature and seriousness of the misconduct involved in two separate incidents and the psychological and physical harm caused.
“In addition Mrs Bartolome has not demonstrated sufficient insight or remorse to persuade the panel that the public interest might be met by a period of suspension from the register and that it ought to adopt this more lenient outcome.
“The panel therefore concluded that the seriousness of this case is incompatible with on-going registration.”
Arthur Forbes, vice-chairman of Grampian Senior Citizens Forum, said: “I think her actions are disgusting and I don’t believe she should ever be allowed to practice as a nurse again.
“No nurse should be acting in this manner, but especially with a vulnerable patient such as this who has Parkinson’s.
“I can only imagine the amount of distress which has been caused to this patient and it is completely unacceptable.”
