Nurse falsely accused colleague of sexual assault

Ruxandra Nicoleta Sarbut worked at Buckingham Lodge Care Home in Watton at the time of the incidents

A nurse who falsely accused a colleague of sexually assaulting her after suspecting him of complaining about her treatment of patients has been struck off.

Ruxandra Nicoleta Sarbut, who worked at Buckingham Lodge Care Home in Watton, Norfolk, told senior members of staff the suspected whistleblower had touched her bottom.

Before doing so the “dishonest” nurse told a colleague she was going to claim he had sexually assaulted her, even though this was untrue.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council banned Ms Sarbut from the profession after finding her fitness to practise was impaired and she was guilty of serious misconduct.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council concluded the "dishonest" nurse's fitness to practise had been impaired

The panel heard the nurse had made the false claim in February 2023 after the Care and Quality Commission (CQC) received a whistleblowing complaint regarding her conduct.

The home then launched an investigation into allegations Ms Sarbut had used inappropriate language towards residents and colleagues.

They also looked into reports she had pushed residents, inappropriately administered sedative medication to residents and falsified records and told other staff to do so.

After being informed of the complaint to the CQC, she set about “intending to induce others to believe” the colleague had sexually assaulted her.

She claimed he had lifted her up off the floor with his hands on her bottom and had touched her bottom.

'Lacked integrity'

During a Nursing and Midwifery Council misconduct hearing many of the claims against Ms Sarbut, most of which related to incidents between November 2021 and January 2023, were proved to be true.

On one occasion Ms Sarbut shouted at a resident to “go back to bed you stupid man” and told another that they were an “idiot”, the hearing was told.

She also told another resident that they were “only at the home to die”, prepared medication before it was due, and told untrained colleagues to administer medication.

Ms Sarbut also screamed at colleagues, told them they were stupid and told others the residents “do my nut in”.

The nurse, who “lacked integrity” and had put “multiple patients at risk of emotional harm”, the panel said, was banned indefinitely unless she appeals the decision within 18 months.