An Edinburgh care worker has been given a two year warning after telling a patient they had a “horrible smell” while out on a home visit.
An investigation from the Scottish Social Services Council saw employee Julie Edgar slapped with the imposition after a series of actions towards a service user last year. While working for the City of Edinburgh Council, Ms Edgar had made a series of comments one a two-day period regarding the patient to another colleague.
Visiting the home, the carer was found to have said how there was a “horrible smell off her” in reference to the patient, while they were in the same room. Continuing on, Ms Edgar turned to the patient and said “it’s from you”, before complaining on multiple occasions over how they were required to lift her.
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Sharing how she wasn’t happy with the task, Ms Edgar said: “You know what? I’m getting too old for this and I’m thinking I want to live another 30 years, I don’t want to live jarring my back.”
After a conversation with the patient’s son, Ms Edgar was also found to have made derogatory comments, one of which was: “…see he doesn’t like that because he’s sh*****g himself that she’s going to get put in a home.”
Following a review, the SSSC described the comments as “demeaning and unprofessional.” However, due to Ms Edgar showing an “understanding of the consequences” and apologising and having no previous issues, she avoided being struck off the register or any more severe sanctions.
The SSSC review said:” By speaking in a derogatory manner directly to and in the presence of AA you failed to communicate appropriately and your behaviour was disrespectful of AA and AA’s needs.
"What you said failed to take into account AA’s feelings. Your behaviour had the potential to embarrass and upset AA. You could have embarrassed and upset AA by talking about a horrible smell and then telling AA it was coming from her and the things you said to AA at allegation 1c were abrupt, short and impatient.”
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