'Cruel' care home nurse is struck off

'I have no compassion for that man' she tells police

A “CRUEL” care home nurse accused of smearing excrement on the face of a frail 97-year-old while taunting him for being incontinent has been struck off.

The incident happened at the BUPA-run Donnington Care Home on August 25, 2012.

In July 2014, jurors at Reading Crown Court cleared Barbara Kowalska, who was living at London Road, Newbury, of neglect.

But the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) sitting in Central London on Monday, branded her actions cruel and struck her from the medical register.

Louise Hartley, for the NMC, told the hearing that, when challenged over her actions by her manager at the home, 35-year-old Ms Kowalska replied: “I’m sorry, I have no compassion for that man – I don’t care if you report me.”

Ms Hartley added: “A care assistant found the resident had soiled himself and went to Kowalska for help to clean him up.

“She was not happy about this and appeared to be angry with him... she spoke in a very nasty manner to the elderly resident.”

Ms Hartley told the hearing that the care assistant was extremely worried by Kowalska’s behaviour but felt intimidated by her.

She went on: “The care assistant then noticed that Ms Kowalska had faeces on her glove. She raised her hand and wiped it on his nose.”

Ms Hartley emphasised the physical and emotional harm Ms Kowalska’s actions had on her victim.

Two separate care assistants described Kowalska “ranting” at the man and said she was very angry as she felt he had soiled himself deliberately.

One of the care assistants told the hearing: “She smeared poo under his nose and said if you do this again you will be eating [it]. She knew he hated having his nose touched.”

During a police interview, the hearing was told, Ms Kowalska admitted that she waved the man’s soiled incontinence pad “more than a few inches” from his face and repeatedly asked “what’s this?”.

When asked if she touched his face she said: “If I did I am not realising about it, but I now remember that he was cleaning his face.”

NMC panel chairwoman Anne Asher said: “The act of wiping faeces on a seriously-ill patient’s face would be considered deplorable by fellow practitioners.

“Her explanation centred around how stressed she was at the time and how her accent was often misinterpreted as harsh.

“The patient was elderly and vulnerable with a serious medical condition and Ms Kowalska showed him complete disrespect and undermined his dignity.”

She added: “It is the panel’s conclusion that she has deep-seated attitudinal issues and had not demonstrated any remorse for her actions.

“Ms Kowalska’s actions were cruel. She showed a lack of compassion and respect for the patient.”

The NMC found the case proved. Ms Kowalska did not attend the hearing and was struck off.