Nurse sacked for refusing to wear face mask

The nurse said she was exempt from wearing a mask

A nurse was sacked for not wearing a face mask while visiting elderly and vulnerable patients in their homes during the coronavirus pandemic, a disciplinary hearing was told.

Ellie Louise Bennett, who specialised in end-of-life care, said she would not wear a covering "until someone can prove Covid exists" and also said she was medically exempt, a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) fitness to practise panel heard.

Ms Bennett, who was sacked by Blackpool Victoria Hospital in 2023, was sanctioned by the committee last week but not barred from nursing.

She received a nine-month conditions of practice order, with seven conditions, including undergoing recognised infection control training.

The committee's report said she had not worked as a nurse since her dismissal.

Ms Bennett admitted that she should have held a meeting with her line manager to explain her self-exemption, which she obtained privately through a GP.

She also said: "At no stage was I trying to cause any trouble... I understand that the trust is continuously doing what they can to ensure the public feel safe and secure."

'Vulnerable patients'

The nurse worked had worked for the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust since 2019 and was a district nurse, whose role included end-of-life palliative care, injections, wound care and catheter changes.

The hearing was told she visited 56 patients between 14 February and 21 March 2022, 52 of whom were aged over 75 and were extremely clinically vulnerable due to their health conditions.

The nurse was dismissed in 2023

It noted: "During the local informal investigation meeting... on 28 March 2022, Miss Bennett confirmed that she refused to wear a mask unless 'someone can prove covid [sic] exists' or 'if its [sic] law, not guidance'.

"She claimed to be medically exempt from wearing PPE but refused to provide a medical exemption letter from her GP."

The nurse admitted to the NMC panel that on one or more occasions between 14 February 2022 and 21 March 2022 she did not wear a face mask when visiting patients, and also did not provide a a medical exemption letter or "in a timely manner".

The disciplinary panel found her fitness to practise was "impaired" by her misconduct, although it also said: "The panel was of the view that it was in the public interest that, with appropriate safeguards, Miss Bennett should be able to return to practise as a nurse."

A panel review hearing will assess how well Ms Bennett has complied with the order before it expires.

It may revoke the order, confirm or vary it, or replace it with another one.