Former St Andrew’s Hospital nurse said patient who tried to self-harm was ‘not doing it right’

A registered nurse left patients at St Andrew’s in Northampton alone with medication and told a colleague to ‘never question his word again’.

John Joseph Brennan was suspended from the nursing register in September 2023 and recently had his suspension replaced with a conditions of practice order.

The order by the Nursing and Midwife Council (NMC) was imposed by a panel of three members and means Mr Brennan can return to work under restricted circumstances for the next 18 months.

It came after a number of incidents which took place on Pritchard Ward at St Andrew’s Hospital between October 2017 and September 2018.

These included not recording administration of some medication, leaving a patient alone with medication and retrospectively filling in documents after a patient was placed in seclusion. A patient was also left on their own while in seclusion.

He also failed to lock a clinic door, and did not secure keys allowing access to medication and the clinic.

Charges of shouting at two colleagues and speaking to them in an intimidating manner were also proved, including the nurse pointing his finger in his peer’s face and saying ‘I will have you punished’ and ‘don’t you ever question my word again’.

Mr Brennan was then employed at another mental health unit out of the county in 2019. The NMC panel found while working here he had called patients ‘clingy and attention-seeking’ and had said a patient was ‘not doing it right’ when they self-harmed. He was also found to have used incorrect restraint techniques on a patient.

Another incident at the mental health facility saw him lock a patient who was ‘wielding a metal urn’ in a ward with other patients.

Mr Brennan told the NMC panel that since the suspension he has undertaken around 40 training courses, some mandatory and some paid. He also reflected on the charges and provided testimonials.

The NMC report read: “You have provided a detailed reflection, evidence of training, and positive testimonials which attest to your good character, effective communication, dependability, and honesty. You also provided detailed submissions to the panel which explore your coping mechanisms and builds on the written reflection provided by you.

“Despite the seriousness of your misconduct, there is evidence before the panel that you have substantially developed and strengthened your insight, and worked to remediate the concerns arising from the charges found proved.

“You have indicated that you wish to return to nursing, and a conditions of practice order will allow you to safely return to a nursing environment, strengthen your practice, and further remediate the concerns which remain.”

The conditions mean for the next 18 months Mr Brennan must work with a single employer, create a personal development plan with his manager and be supervised by another registered nurse. He must also keep the NMC informed about anywhere he is working or studying.

The NMC will hold a review hearing before the order ends to confirm it has been complied with and has the capacity to replace it for another order.

A spokesman from St Andrew’s Healthcare said: "St Andrew's Healthcare is focused on providing quality of care to our patients, as we deliver on our mission to support people with complex mental health needs to transform their lives.

“If any staff member does not meet the high levels of professional standards that are required, we have formal and robust procedures in place and where necessary will alert and work with the relevant professional bodies to address any issues."