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A nurse has been struck off for stealing tablets and antibiotics belonging to two residents at a nursing home in Cornwall.

Patrick O’Hare, who worked at Tregenna Nursing Home in Camborne, helped himself to 56 zapain tablets and a course of antibiotics prior to March 14 of last year, according to the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC).

He also received a police caution on April 4 for the offence of possessing a controlled Class B drug.

The decision to strike O’Hare off was taken at a meeting of the NMC’s Conduct and Competence Committee in London.

The hearing was told how O’Hare was referred to the NMC on March 14 by the manager of Tregenna Nursing Home where he was employed at the time.

He had been in a relationship with a healthcare assistant employed at the home which came to an end in March of last year. At the end of the relationship the healthcare assistant, who has not been named, told the home’s manager that O’Hare had been stealing the medication.

The NMC report added that despite the crime O’Hare was “a very good nurse” and “highly professional” and had also recently worked at Tremethick House in Redruth.

An extract from the report read: “His actions with regards to the correct procedures when managing and disposing of medication left the patients in his care at great risk and due to these actions, Mr O’Hare brought the nursing profession into disrepute.

“Mr O’Hare’s actions were significant departures from the standards expected of a registered nurse and are fundamentally incompatible with him remaining on the register. The panel was of the view that the findings in this particular case demonstrate that Mr O’Hare’s actions were serious and to allow him to continue practicing would undermine public confidence in the profession and in the NMC regulatory body.

“Balancing all of these factors and after taking into account all the evidence before it during the case, the panel determined that the appropriate and proportionate sanction is that of a striking-off order.”

Tregenna Nursing home said it did not want to comment on the case.