Nurse struck off for giving extra dose of insulin to patient

[Amity Island]

A Bristol nurse with nearly 30 years’ experience has been struck off after giving an extra dose of insulin to a diabetic patient.
The patient, who had been a pharmacist, was left “extremely distressed” and asked her to monitor his blood sugar, but there is no evidence she did.

Bristol nurse who gave extra insulin to diabetic struck off

Wendi Anne Williams apologised but showed a "frightening" lack of insight

www.bristolpost.co.uk

 

[Ivostas66]

When I was diagnosed, a young doctor at the end of a very long shift gave the nurse in the ambulatory care unit a Novomix pen, rang a consultant and told the nurse to give me a dose of 30 at 6pm and 12am. I was taught how to inject and about 10 minutes later, my wife asked if I had to inject at the same time every day as waking at midnight seemed a bit strange. A group of nurses rushed to the room, followed by a very tearful doctor who said that she had misheard the consultant on the phone (it was a dose of 6 every morning and 12 every evening). I was given a plate of sandwiches, cakes and bottles of Irn Bru from a vending machine to counteract the massive dose of insulin I had just injected. Had to stay in overnight, with finger pricked every 10 minutes throughout the night. The young doctor kept coming to see me and apologising. She finished her shift at 2am, was crying next to my bed and admitted to starting her day in the unit at 6am, which was common apparently.

I have never blamed her for the situation - I wrote to my local MP explaining that the fault lies with the government's lack of funding and that something needs to change to prevent similar issues with other worn out health care professionals. In response I received a long letter telling me how amazing the Tory government is and how vast their funding of the NHS has been in recent years. He also told me to complain about the doctor to the health trust and that I could also seek legal advice if I wished!!

 

[Amity Island]

When I was diagnosed, a young doctor at the end of a very long shift gave the nurse in the ambulatory care unit a Novomix pen, rang a consultant and told the nurse to give me a dose of 30 at 6pm and 12am. I was taught how to inject and about 10 minutes later, my wife asked if I had to inject at the same time every day as waking at midnight seemed a bit strange. A group of nurses rushed to the room, followed by a very tearful doctor who said that she had misheard the consultant on the phone (it was a dose of 6 every morning and 12 every evening). I was given a plate of sandwiches, cakes and bottles of Irn Bru from a vending machine to counteract the massive dose of insulin I had just injected. Had to stay in overnight, with finger pricked every 10 minutes throughout the night. The young doctor kept coming to see me and apologising. She finished her shift at 2am, was crying next to my bed and admitted to starting her day in the unit at 6am, which was common apparently.

I have never blamed her for the situation - I wrote to my local MP explaining that the fault lies with the government's lack of funding and that something needs to change to prevent similar issues with other worn out health care professionals. In response I received a long letter telling me how amazing the Tory government is and how vast their funding of the NHS has been in recent years. He also told me to complain about the doctor to the health trust and that I could also seek legal advice if I wished!!

No wonder you got such a response from the staff!

30 instead of 6 is a huge amount of extra insulin. If I take 1 unit extra on my basal, it has a considerable effect on blood sugars. I cannot imagine what an extra 24u would do. Talk about a close shave.

Not a good start....but it's good to hear they realised sooner, rather than later....but even so, they must have been pretty worried.

 

[trophywench]

They'd have had to report that to the CQC as a 'Never' event!

And they do strive to have Nil Never events every year.