Hospice Nurse Struck Off Following Bet on Patient's Death and Serious Medication Errors
A hospice nurse who allegedly wagered with colleagues that one of her terminally ill patients would die on Christmas Day has been formally struck off the nursing register. Naomi Butcher, aged 60, was removed from professional practice after a disciplinary panel found she had committed a series of grave medical errors and displayed discriminatory behaviour while employed at St Peter and St James Hospice in Lewes, East Sussex.
Pattern of Misconduct and Risk to Vulnerable Patients
The Nursing and Midwifery Council Fitness to Practise Committee determined that Butcher's actions posed an unwarranted risk of harm to vulnerable patients under her care. Her misconduct spanned several months and included multiple instances of incorrectly administering medication or failing to provide prescribed treatments altogether.
In one particularly dangerous incident, Butcher administered 50mg of Midazolam—a medication commonly used in hospice care for sedation and anxiety—instead of the prescribed 5mg dose to a terminally ill patient. The panel concluded this error placed the patient at significant risk of death. Furthermore, Butcher failed to report this critical mistake and falsely claimed she had administered the correct amount.
Shocking Bet and Discriminatory Remarks
According to witness testimony presented to the committee, Butcher made a disturbing bet with colleagues regarding one of her patients on December 11, 2023. She reportedly stated: "I make a bet with all of you that he will die on Christmas Day." The panel characterized this remark as degrading and noted it could have caused severe emotional and psychological distress to both the patient and their family had they overheard it.
Additionally, Butcher was found to have made discriminatory comments when refusing a family's request to visit their deceased relative. Witnesses reported that Butcher claimed the family, whom she described as gypsies, "burn their bodies in caravans when they die." Although Butcher denied making these specific comments, the committee found the allegations proven based on multiple witness statements.
Multiple Medication Administration Failures
The committee's report detailed numerous medication errors committed by Butcher throughout her tenure at the hospice:
- On August 16, 2023, she failed to administer a 1g dose of Paracetamol to a patient.
- On September 4, 2023, she did not provide a patient with their full prescribed dose of Oxycodone, a powerful pain medication.
- In November 2023, she neglected to give the same patient their Promethazine medication, an antihistamine.
- On August 19, 2023, she inserted the wrong syringe into a patient.
- On March 11, 2024, she administered 80mg of Oxycodone to a patient instead of the prescribed 80mg of Morphine Sulphate tablets.
Investigation and Disciplinary Outcome
The hospice became aware of multiple allegations against Butcher and attempted to address the medication incidents with her upon her return to work in March 2024. However, Butcher submitted her resignation on March 25 and took sick leave during her notice period, preventing further discussion of the matters.
St Peter and St James Hospice formally referred their concerns to the Nursing and Midwifery Council on April 4, 2024. Following a thorough investigation and hearing, the Fitness to Practise Committee concluded that Butcher's fitness to practice was impaired due to her misconduct. The panel noted her pattern of errors over time, the unwarranted risk she created for vulnerable patients, and her discriminatory behaviour.
Butcher admitted to all allegations except those concerning the comments about the traveller family and burning bodies in caravans. However, the committee interpreted her decision not to engage with this aspect of the proceedings as an indication that she did not challenge the documentary evidence against her.
The striking-off order means Butcher can no longer practice as a nurse in the United Kingdom, marking the conclusion of a case that revealed serious breaches of professional standards in hospice care.
