Blundering senior nurse at Glasgow hospital struck off after 'putting patients at risk'

Filomena Divinagracia put patients at risk of harm over a period of five months while working at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Ms Divinagracia made repeated errors in patient diagnosis, infection control and safe administration of medication, despite the fact she had qualified ten years earlier.

Senior staff said the staff nurse had a “caring nature” but they weren’t confident she could work unsupervised without causing harm to patients.

In an earlier hearing of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) the nurse was suspended and was told she could continue working as a nurse if she undertook further, intensive training.

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However, a subsequent hearing was told she had “not addressed any of the issues with her practice.” and had told the nursing regulator she had “no desire to return to nursing.”

A panel of the NMC said: “The panel was of the view that there has been no insight or remediation demonstrated by Miss Divinagracia.

“The panel had borne in mind that its primary function was to protect patients and the wider public interest which includes maintaining confidence in the nursing profession and upholding proper standards of conduct and performance.”

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The nurse was employed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde from July 2015 to November 5, months after the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital opened.

A number of separate inquiries are underway looking at the design, construction and running of the QEUH following infection outbreaks and patient deaths.

It emerged earlier this week that a child with cancer died after contracting an infection that is linked to contaminated water.

Glasgow Labour MSP Anas Sarwar revealed during First Minister’s Questions yesterday that the child’s parents were not told about the link.