A NURSE who was accused of throwing equipment across a patient’s room and used inappropriate language at work has been cautioned for her behaviour.

Suzanne Pyman, who works within the Maple Community Care Team at Odiham Cottage Hospital, admitted to two counts of failing to provide adequate care to two different patients, using inappropriate language in a staff office and inappropriately copying records and documents. 

She denied a charge of throwing blood testing equipment across a patient’s room. 

At a hearing in London on May 23, a panel from the Nursing and Midwifery Council listened to evidence made against Ms Pyman, who has been a nurse for 42 years. 

The panel heard that Ms Pyman threw the equipment on her first day back at work at Heatherside Care Home in 2013 after a lengthy period of sickness. 

A community matron, who was in the room at the time of the incident, gave evidence and said Ms Pyman threw the equipment before swearing to herself, after being unable to retract blood from a patient because her hand was shaking. 

Ms Pyman denied this, but the panel ruled against her. 

She did, however, admit wrongdoing when taking copies of some patients’ notes after hearing an investigation was to be made against her in 2013 – a decision she told the hearing that she deeply regretted. 

A report on the hearing said that Ms Pyman explained that she swore after being told off for being an hour late, and lost “all composure”. 

She also admitted that she should have done more when observing two patients after she failed to conduct and complete an adequate assessment of them.

Defending Ms Pyman, Ed Carey, of the Independent Democratic Union, reminded the panel of his client’s long service as a registered nurse, and that this was the first time she had been called before the NMC. 

The panel took into consideration an email from Msy Pyman’s current home manager, dated May 20, which stated: “Sue continues to be an asset to the home. I have no concerns with her practice.”

The panel issued Ms Pyman with a caution order, which means ‘caution’ will appear against her name for the next three years.

Ms Pyman's husband Mr Pyman told The Gazette that she no longer worked at Odiham Cottage Hospital but declined to say where she currently works.