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Nurse who made a joke of handling vulnerable patient’s genitals cautioned by NMC

Five-year caution for nurse convicted of ill-treating patient who lacked capacity
NMC cautions nurse William Kennedy for inappropriately touching patient's genitals while joking to colleagues

Nurse regulator gives five-year caution to William Kennedy after he was convicted of ill-treating care home resident who lacked capacity

NMC cautions nurse William Kennedy for inappropriately touching patient's genitals while joking to colleagues
Picture: Alamy

A nurse who handled a vulnerable patient’s genitals in an inappropriate manner after conducting a vaginal examination, and while joking to colleagues, has been given a caution by the regulator.

William Kennedy, a nurse for 26 years, was convicted of ill-treatment of a patient who lacked capacity, at Newport Magistrates’ Court in February 2018.

The five-year caution now means any employer will be notified that Mr Kennedy’s fitness to practise (FtP) is impaired.

Nurse’s remorse and insight

The nurse committed the offence against a patient at Cwmgelli Lodge Care Home, Blackwood in south Wales in September 2017. He joked while touching the woman inappropriately after examining her vagina in the presence of three healthcare assistants.

A Nursing and Midwifery fitness to practise panel acknowledged at a hearing on 28 April that Mr Kennedy’s behaviour had been very serious but said it was an isolated incident for which he had expressed considerable remorse, and that he understood the impact of his actions on the patient, his colleagues and the profession.

‘My parents would have been extremely disappointed’

In a statement to the hearing, Mr Kennedy wrote: ‘I would have been horrified if my parents knew of my shameful behaviour as they would have been extremely disappointed at such an act.’

His new employer provided the NMC with a positive reference about Mr Kennedy’s work as a nurse.

Read the fitness to practise committee’s report


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