A DOZY nurse in charge of 40 elderly patients at a Beckenham care home was photographed sleeping during her night shift, an inquiry heard.

Evelyn Meredith, 57, was found snoozing under blankets in the corridors of the 50-bed Bromley Park Nursing Home during a surprise inspection on July 15, 1999.

The owner of the home, Jeyathambiki Rajumoorthy, also discovered Meredith had allowed three of her colleagues to take a nap while on duty including the only other qualified nurse leaving her elderly patients unattended.

The UK Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC) professional conduct committee heard how doors were wedged shut with commode chairs to prevent noisy residents disturbing their sleep.

One patient was heard shouting "please help me, please get me out" and emerged with soiled clothes. Meredith woke up when the matron shook her after a camera flash and shouting failed to rouse her.

The committee heard only one member of staff should have been on a one-hour break at a time.

Representing the UKCC, Helen Kitchen, said: "When they entered at 2.30am, one care assistant was found asleep on her chair in the ground floor and they subsequently found a second, Helen Maguire, asleep on the floor in a corridor.

"The audit team then proceeded up the stairs to access the first floor but were initially unable to open the door.

"A commode chair had been wedged under the door handle to room 26. After some effort they gained entry."

After being photographed and woken up, Meredith ignored orders to explain herself and marched out of the building after writing some notes on a patient's medical form, the committee heard.

Mrs Rajumoorthy said: "I was quite upset. We depend on the staff to look after the residents but they were sleeping."

Meredith is accused of sleeping on duty, allowing two care assistants and the second nurse to take a break at the same time and failing to ensure the doors to two patients' rooms and the first floor were unblocked.

Meredith denies all three counts of misconduct. The case is adjourned until January 16 when Meredith is expected to give evidence.

November 15, 2001 12:00

By Court reporter