Blackburn Hospital nurse Teresa Bacon has been struck off

According to the report, published by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), there were 17 allegations against digestive diseases nurse Teresa Bacon, all of which were proven.

The East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said it took action “as soon as concerns were raised” about Ms Bacon.

In April 2019, a patient, named as Patient A, was found to be suffering from breathing difficulties.

A witness said Bacon “gave the impression that she couldn’t be bothered” to assist the breathless patient and told other nurses “not to disturb her”.

The NMC council concluded the band five nurse “failed to respond to the incident in a timely manner”.

When she did come back to help Patient A, Bacon placed a nebuliser on them and then went on a break.

The report said she did not escalate Patient A’s condition to a senior nurse or doctor before going on her break.

The witness said: “I couldn’t believe she had just gone to break. It was a completely incorrect action to take.

“Teresa had given the patient a nebuliser. This was standard procedure, but it was not standard procedure to go on your break while a patient was having difficulty breathing.”

Bacon was also accused of recording that she had given a patient medication when she had not. She was also said to have been rude to another patient, named Patient B.

Patient B said Bacon would “frequently shout at [them] for no reason”.

In a letter, dated May 31, 2019, Patient B said: “I have been treated by staff nurse Teresa several times.

"Each time I feel like I have been patronised, shouted at, ignored…she humiliates patients.”

Patient B also accused Bacon of ignoring their request to change their dressings, adding it was “always the night nurses” who had to change them.

Patient B also said she was “would constantly be asking her for medication”.

Another witness told investigators Bacon shouted at a patient and told them “you will eat” in front of everyone in the bay.

Bacon was also found to act unprofessionally at work, “discussing her private life with unknown patients”, and was said to regularly ask patients to “fetch her a Costa coffee” while she was on shift, despite this being against hospital policy.

According to the NMC report, Bacon was found to have consumed food that was provided for patients on the ward.

The witness said: “Teresa would regularly take food from the patient trays and eat it herself.

“She would always have pockets full of food. I have seen her look for her keys in her pockets, and take out all the patient food she has stored in them before finding her keys.

“Occasionally there might be spare food when a patient is discharged, but it's policy that we aren’t to eat patient food.”

She added she had caught once caught Bacon “eating the exact cake that had gone missing from one of the patient’s meal trays”.

The NMC panel concluded Bacon’s actions “fell short of the standards expected of a registered nurse”.

It said "patients were put at risk and were caused physical and emotional harm” as a result of Bacon’s misconduct.

It called her actions “deplorable” and said her behaviour “seriously undermined public confidence in the profession”.

As a result, Bacon has been struck off the nursing register.

Peter Murphy, chief nurse at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “As soon as concerns were raised about this person, action was taken and the trust made the referral to the Nursing and Midwifery Council itself.

“The safety and welfare of those in our care is our top priority at all times but the experience of patients whilst in our care is equally important and we will always act firmly where poor and disrespectful behaviour is observed.

“I want to add that the actions of this person do not reflect the majority of compassionate and hard-working colleagues who are caring for people across all services every day.

"I am proud to be part of the team delivering safe, personal and effective care across our hospitals and out in the community too.”