Three Nurses Suspended In Patient Probe

Mar 9 2008 By Marion Scott

Exclusive Patient 'Dragged Through Corridor'

THREE nurses have been suspended after a vulnerable 71-year-old was dragged through a hospital corridor in front of shocked staff.

Jocky Kerr was sent home from Paisley's Dykebar Hospital over claims vulnerable patient Thomas Ramsay was pulled along the floor.

Witnesses say other nurses tried to intervene as psychiatric nurse Kerr dragged Thomas by the arms into a bathroom.

Two senior nurses have also been suspended pending an investigation. It's claimed they failed to act on or report the matter, which is alleged to have happened on February 19.

Thomas, who suffers debilitating bouts of manic depression, has been a patient at Dykebar for three years.

His sister Catherine Stafford, 72, of Paisley, said: "We thought the hospital were being good with Thomas. We still haven't been given a full explanation about what happened."

Kerr, 63, of Barrhead, Renfrewshire, refused to discuss the case at his home.

A spokesman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: "We can confirm three members of staff have been suspended and an investigation is ongoing."

Two years ago, senior nurse Lorraine Brogan was suspended after refusing to be the only qualified nurse covering two wards and 46 elderly patients at Dykebar.

She had accused bosses of sedating patients to cope with a chronic shortage of carers.

The hospital has been at the centre of a string of embarrassing incidents which have hit the headlines.

Three years ago, a senior nurse on sick leave from Dykebar was caught on an all-day booze bender with a convicted killer.

A police spokeswoman said: "This matter has been reported to us and we will investigate."

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