Hearing told none of the group were wearing uniform while checking patients

Two senior nursing staff allowed students from an outside company to work on an acute care ward without the knowledge of hospital bosses, a hearing was told.

Ward sister Diana Anie and lecturer practitioner Rosetta West allegedly allowed the group to attend to patients and access confidential records at Central Middlesex Hospital in Park Royal.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council heard the students were not part of any authorised training programme at the trust and had not been subject to normal vetting procedures or CRB checks.

Shelley Brownlea, for the NMC, said unauthorised students were spotted working on the acute ward B3 at the hospital on at least two occasions.

Clinical educator Helen Datta had stopped by the ward on the morning of March 24, 2004 to check how many people would be taking part in a training session on diabetes that afternoon.

Ms Brownlea said: “When she arrived on the ward, she saw several individuals who did not appear to be trust staff members.”

“These individuals she observed were near patient areas and some of them were looking at patient notes.”

The hearing was told none of the group of five were wearing trust uniforms, but they were all dressed in black trousers and white tops with badges saying Zenith Healthcare.

The students attended the training session that afternoon, which was carried out by Ms Anie and Ms West was also present.

West, who was in charge of the supervised practice programme at the hospital has attended the hearing.

Anie is not present.

Neither have made any admissions to charges that they allowed individuals to work on ward B3 without the authorisation of the trust.

The hearing continues.