Nurse who told swine flu patient to take cough syrup struck off

10:00am Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News Exclusive By Jon Austin

A 20-YEAR old man died from swine flu and pneumonia on Boxing day after a senior nurse told him to go to the chemist instead of A&E.

Fadzai Jaravaza, 59, from Bridge Road, Wickford, will be struck off the nursing register after being found guilty of a string of professional misconduct charges by a Nursing and Midwifery Council fitness to practice panel.

Ms Jaravaza was a senior nurse advisor for NHS Direct Essex which takes telephone calls from the public and operators offer advice based on the symptoms described through a computer system.

The panel heard on Christmas Day 2010 she ignored advice from the system that he should go straight to A&E and instead told him to get cough syrup from the chemist and treat himself.

She took two phone calls from his mother and himself who both explained he suffered diarrhoea and vomiting for six days, including brown liquid, and described a chesty cough and discoloured mucous.

She was already being monitored by managers since March 2010 following a series of unsatisfactory calls.

The panel’s report of the hearing said: “On both occasions, Ms Jaravaza advised that Patient A should seek pharmacy advice and self-medicate.

The panel was informed that Patient A was admitted to hospital the following day, but sadly passed away later that day following a provisional diagnosis of pneumonia secondary to H1N1 influenza (Swine flu).

The report added: “There is evidence of lack of insight and a lack of engagement. Further, the panel considers that there is a real risk of repetition of Ms Jaravaza’s failings which could lead to patient harm.

It is the panel’s finding that a period of suspension would not be sufficient to protect patients. “The panel considers that a striking off order is the only sanction that is sufficient to protect patients and the public interest.

The seriousness of the case, including the number and wide-ranging nature of the incidents, is incompatible with ongoing registration.“

Ms Jaravaza, who worked for NHS Direct since 2001, claimed during the probe the probe the problems were down to changes with the system in 2009.

The then refused to cooperate and was not at the hearing in London. She was 28 days to appeal the decision before the strike off.

Comments (17)

11:36am Wed 13 Mar 13

Not A Native says...

So this nurse had been monitored for 9 months as she was known giving bad advice..? Yeah. much better to act retrospectively than to give her other duties where she couldn't kill someone.
I guess the decision was that it would be too much fuss to relieve her of her duties before a patient offered his life up and made it easier for management.
Next time I call NHS direct for advice, I'm going to ask if whoever answers the phone has any blood on their hands.
So this nurse had been monitored for 9 months as she was known giving bad advice..? Yeah. much better to act retrospectively than to give her other duties where she couldn't kill someone. I guess the decision was that it would be too much fuss to relieve her of her duties before a patient offered his life up and made it easier for management. Next time I call NHS direct for advice, I'm going to ask if whoever answers the phone has any blood on their hands. Not A Native

11:51am Wed 13 Mar 13

whataday says...

NotANative the NHS has to follow policies when dealing with conduct/HR issues. If they hadn't followed these then the nurse in question would have, in all probability, taken the NHS to Employment Tribunal for Discrimination under the Race Relations Act. Unfortunately in respect of some poor employees they have to more than bend over backwards to avoid being sued. The Equality Act is often abused in the same way as the Human Rights Act
NotANative the NHS has to follow policies when dealing with conduct/HR issues. If they hadn't followed these then the nurse in question would have, in all probability, taken the NHS to Employment Tribunal for Discrimination under the Race Relations Act. Unfortunately in respect of some poor employees they have to more than bend over backwards to avoid being sued. The Equality Act is often abused in the same way as the Human Rights Act whataday

12:06pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Not A Native says...

Whataday - she may have taken them to a tribunal, who knows? Pure cowardice on behalf of her managers assures us we'll never find out.

But it all worked out nicely for the management in the end - they got rid of their headache employee, and the small matter of a fatality won't trouble them as they get their next bonus.
Whataday - she may have taken them to a tribunal, who knows? Pure cowardice on behalf of her managers assures us we'll never find out. But it all worked out nicely for the management in the end - they got rid of their headache employee, and the small matter of a fatality won't trouble them as they get their next bonus. Not A Native

1:21pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Sean4u says...

"the problems were down to changes with the system"
I know a number of elderly nurses and ex-nurses who are almost militant in their refusal to accept computerisation in the NHS. It's not entirely their fault - many of them have witnessed and suffered first-hand from decades of incompetent and failed NHS IT projects. Presumably their managers and the IT projects don't suffer the same penalties if nurses use their own judgement and override a computerised suggestion in the patient's favour.
"the problems were down to changes with the system" I know a number of elderly nurses and ex-nurses who are almost militant in their refusal to accept computerisation in the NHS. It's not entirely their fault - many of them have witnessed and suffered first-hand from decades of incompetent and failed NHS IT projects. Presumably their managers and the IT projects don't suffer the same penalties if nurses use their own judgement and override a computerised suggestion in the patient's favour. Sean4u

1:47pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Baker-Boy says...

bad story in all im sure the woman was giving the best advice she could over the phone and the family have lost a loved one. everyone a victim in this story.
bad story in all im sure the woman was giving the best advice she could over the phone and the family have lost a loved one. everyone a victim in this story. Baker-Boy

1:58pm Wed 13 Mar 13

emcee says...

Not only should the nurse in question be held to account, and she has, but the management responsible for her, also. This is an issue of death through incompetance and could have been avoided had management acted correctly in the first instance.
But, as usual, management find themselves in a highly paid, safe job, where they can conduct activities but cannot be touched should things go t*ts up.
Not only should the nurse in question be held to account, and she has, but the management responsible for her, also. This is an issue of death through incompetance and could have been avoided had management acted correctly in the first instance. But, as usual, management find themselves in a highly paid, safe job, where they can conduct activities but cannot be touched should things go t*ts up. emcee

3:21pm Wed 13 Mar 13

John T Pharro says...

How many people in the Stafford hospital kill under Sir David Nicholson?He is still in his job, paid by the tax payer, and has just employed the person stopping whistle blowing. What this nurse did was deplorable and what this 'man with no shame" did is scandalous as well as deplorable.
Probably he is good mates with the other "Sir" Fred the shred"
Both of these are supposed to be indispensable.
How many people in the Stafford hospital kill under Sir David Nicholson?He is still in his job, paid by the tax payer, and has just employed the person stopping whistle blowing. What this nurse did was deplorable and what this 'man with no shame" did is scandalous as well as deplorable. Probably he is good mates with the other "Sir" Fred the shred" Both of these are supposed to be indispensable. John T Pharro

7:39pm Wed 13 Mar 13

WhateverS says...

Sean4u wrote:
"the problems were down to changes with the system"
I know a number of elderly nurses and ex-nurses who are almost militant in their refusal to accept computerisation in the NHS. It's not entirely their fault - many of them have witnessed and suffered first-hand from decades of incompetent and failed NHS IT projects. Presumably their managers and the IT projects don't suffer the same penalties if nurses use their own judgement and override a computerised suggestion in the patient's favour.
Are you happy with this statement
Are you sure!
T. W. a. T
[quote][p][bold]Sean4u[/bold] wrote: "the problems were down to changes with the system" I know a number of elderly nurses and ex-nurses who are almost militant in their refusal to accept computerisation in the NHS. It's not entirely their fault - many of them have witnessed and suffered first-hand from decades of incompetent and failed NHS IT projects. Presumably their managers and the IT projects don't suffer the same penalties if nurses use their own judgement and override a computerised suggestion in the patient's favour.[/p][/quote]Are you happy with this statement Are you sure! T. W. a. T WhateverS

7:42pm Wed 13 Mar 13

WhateverS says...

Oops SOZ. Sean4u I pressed wrong quote button again sorry
Oops SOZ. Sean4u I pressed wrong quote button again sorry WhateverS

7:44pm Wed 13 Mar 13

WhateverS says...

Baker-Boy wrote:
bad story in all im sure the woman was giving the best advice she could over the phone and the family have lost a loved one. everyone a victim in this story.
Are you happy with your statment
Are you sure
T. W. A. T
[quote][p][bold]Baker-Boy[/bold] wrote: bad story in all im sure the woman was giving the best advice she could over the phone and the family have lost a loved one. everyone a victim in this story.[/p][/quote]Are you happy with your statment Are you sure T. W. A. T WhateverS

10:09am Thu 14 Mar 13

skinthegoat says...

If you import third-world people, you get third-world service......God help the NHS
If you import third-world people, you get third-world service......God help the NHS skinthegoat

10:12am Thu 14 Mar 13

Not A Native says...

skinthegoat wrote:
If you import third-world people, you get third-world service......God help the NHS
And if you open up the message board to daft racists, you get daft, racist commentary.
[quote][p][bold]skinthegoat[/bold] wrote: If you import third-world people, you get third-world service......God help the NHS[/p][/quote]And if you open up the message board to daft racists, you get daft, racist commentary. Not A Native

11:36am Thu 14 Mar 13

skinthegoat says...

Not A Native wrote:
skinthegoat wrote:
If you import third-world people, you get third-world service......God help the NHS
And if you open up the message board to daft racists, you get daft, racist commentary.
Ad hominem, the only argument the Left has on uncontrooled immigration.
I rest my case.
[quote][p][bold]Not A Native[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]skinthegoat[/bold] wrote: If you import third-world people, you get third-world service......God help the NHS[/p][/quote]And if you open up the message board to daft racists, you get daft, racist commentary.[/p][/quote]Ad hominem, the only argument the Left has on uncontrooled immigration. I rest my case. skinthegoat

11:47am Thu 14 Mar 13

Not A Native says...

skinthegoat wrote:
Not A Native wrote:
skinthegoat wrote:
If you import third-world people, you get third-world service......God help the NHS
And if you open up the message board to daft racists, you get daft, racist commentary.
Ad hominem, the only argument the Left has on uncontrooled immigration.
I rest my case.
Most of the truly great debaters would try to make a case before resting it. All I saw was some daft evidence-free assertion based on the most sweeping generalised assumption of how bad the world is outside our idyllic sceptred isle.

And then the irony of claiming victimhood of an ad hominem attack whilst in the very same sentence attacking the messenger rather than anything of substance. Doublethink is the hallmark of a Daily Mail reader - I spotted one and claim my £5.
[quote][p][bold]skinthegoat[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Not A Native[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]skinthegoat[/bold] wrote: If you import third-world people, you get third-world service......God help the NHS[/p][/quote]And if you open up the message board to daft racists, you get daft, racist commentary.[/p][/quote]Ad hominem, the only argument the Left has on uncontrooled immigration. I rest my case.[/p][/quote]Most of the truly great debaters would try to make a case before resting it. All I saw was some daft evidence-free assertion based on the most sweeping generalised assumption of how bad the world is outside our idyllic sceptred isle. And then the irony of claiming victimhood of an ad hominem attack whilst in the very same sentence attacking the messenger rather than anything of substance. Doublethink is the hallmark of a Daily Mail reader - I spotted one and claim my £5. Not A Native

1:22pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Baker-Boy says...

WhateverS wrote:
Baker-Boy wrote: bad story in all im sure the woman was giving the best advice she could over the phone and the family have lost a loved one. everyone a victim in this story.
Are you happy with your statment Are you sure T. W. A. T
every happy with the statement. no one gone out to kill anyone. human error is one of them things. the world keeps turning.

i look forward to your appology
[quote][p][bold]WhateverS[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Baker-Boy[/bold] wrote: bad story in all im sure the woman was giving the best advice she could over the phone and the family have lost a loved one. everyone a victim in this story.[/p][/quote]Are you happy with your statment Are you sure T. W. A. T[/p][/quote]every happy with the statement. no one gone out to kill anyone. human error is one of them things. the world keeps turning. i look forward to your appology Baker-Boy

3:43pm Thu 14 Mar 13

skinthegoat says...

Not A Native wrote:
skinthegoat wrote:
Not A Native wrote:
skinthegoat wrote:
If you import third-world people, you get third-world service......God help the NHS
And if you open up the message board to daft racists, you get daft, racist commentary.
Ad hominem, the only argument the Left has on uncontrooled immigration.
I rest my case.
Most of the truly great debaters would try to make a case before resting it. All I saw was some daft evidence-free assertion based on the most sweeping generalised assumption of how bad the world is outside our idyllic sceptred isle.

And then the irony of claiming victimhood of an ad hominem attack whilst in the very same sentence attacking the messenger rather than anything of substance. Doublethink is the hallmark of a Daily Mail reader - I spotted one and claim my £5.
Oogh, whose a clever (gender sensitive alert) person then.
I am actually a racist inasmuch as support England for the English....and I read the Telegraph...of course if you don't like free speech, as you are "not a native "feel free to go back from whence you came....
[quote][p][bold]Not A Native[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]skinthegoat[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Not A Native[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]skinthegoat[/bold] wrote: If you import third-world people, you get third-world service......God help the NHS[/p][/quote]And if you open up the message board to daft racists, you get daft, racist commentary.[/p][/quote]Ad hominem, the only argument the Left has on uncontrooled immigration. I rest my case.[/p][/quote]Most of the truly great debaters would try to make a case before resting it. All I saw was some daft evidence-free assertion based on the most sweeping generalised assumption of how bad the world is outside our idyllic sceptred isle. And then the irony of claiming victimhood of an ad hominem attack whilst in the very same sentence attacking the messenger rather than anything of substance. Doublethink is the hallmark of a Daily Mail reader - I spotted one and claim my £5.[/p][/quote]Oogh, whose a clever (gender sensitive alert) person then. I am actually a racist inasmuch as support England for the English....and I read the Telegraph...of course if you don't like free speech, as you are "not a native "feel free to go back from whence you came.... skinthegoat

5:18pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Not A Native says...

I guess I can't be as clever as you suggest as I fail to see where you found my "anti-free speech" tirade.
If it pleases you for me to return to my birthplace, then I shall happily oblige and drive a few miles up the A12 and out of Essex. However I think they have much the same laws there, so I don't see the point. Perhaps you assumed I was born in another country, much as you have originally assumed that the nurse in the story was born elsewhere.
I guess I can't be as clever as you suggest as I fail to see where you found my "anti-free speech" tirade. If it pleases you for me to return to my birthplace, then I shall happily oblige and drive a few miles up the A12 and out of Essex. However I think they have much the same laws there, so I don't see the point. Perhaps you assumed I was born in another country, much as you have originally assumed that the nurse in the story was born elsewhere. Not A Native

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