Nurse threatened to kill colleague, report finds

A care home nurse accused of threatening to "hunt down and kill" his colleague and their family is set to be struck off.

Rupesh Patel was working as an agency nurse across Suffolk and Essex when he was found to be under the influence on several occasions at work in late 2022.

He was convicted of drink-driving in 2023, but has continued to deny drinking at work, and denied using threatening language towards his colleague.

But the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) upheld almost all allegations against him and said the 40-year-old would be banned from practising.

During a fitness to practise committee hearing which took place last month, a witness said that at The Orwell care home near Ipswich, Patel was "wobbling around" and acting in an "intimidating" manner on 6 September 2022.

Then, on a night shift on 19 September 2022, this time at Melford Court in Sudbury, Patel was seen giggling, "knocking into walls" and struggling to unlock a door using a key, according to colleagues.

That same evening, he was also found to be in possession of a bottle containing vodka and Red Bull, which he drank from while on shift.

On another night shift, at The Oaks care home, in Colchester, between 12 and 13 November 2022, Patel allegedly threatened a colleague while drunk.

He was found to have told the staff member he was going to "hunt" him down and "kill" his "whole family".

According to the NMC, he said: "I was coming for you. I was going to kill you, your Mrs, kids, mum, all of them. But now I've met you, I love you.

"I was going to find out where you live. I would have done it, I'm psycho."

The colleague said the exchange left him "physically shaking" and thought there was a "legitimate risk" to his family.

Patel denied being under the influence of alcohol, arguing instead he was "exhausted" after working "four long days and then a night shift".

He also denied using threatening language towards the colleague.

The following morning, Patel allegedly failed to administer medications including insulin properly.

That same day he was involved in a traffic incident for which he was later convicted of drink-driving, using a dangerous vehicle, failing to stop and failing to report an accident.

At Colchester Magistrates' Court on 15 January 2023, he was disqualified from driving for 28 months.

The NMC imposed an 18-month suspension order. This will be replaced with a striking off order, subject to any appeal being made in the next 28 days.

The Oaks care home said Patel "no longer covers shifts" and did not represent its "caring and professional staff".

The Priory Group, which ran The Orwell until 2023, said Patel was "removed from duty immediately" and its first priority was always "the safety and wellbeing" of residents.

The BBC contacted Melford Court for comment.

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