A former Wycombe Hospital nurse who allowed a 'nil by mouth' patient to self-administer medication has been struck-off by the profession's watchdog.

Janet Elizabeth Penson eventually asked to be removed from the nursing register after a series of errors led to a misconduct hearing.

After a previously “unblemished career”, she had been subject to a conditions of practice order for two years after she admitted “misconduct” while working for the Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust at Wycombe Hospital in 2012.

A Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) panel, chaired by Jane Kivlin, heard that during a night shift in July that year, the nurse failed to complete or record observations on a patient.

Later that month, she failed to note down that she had administered medication to another patient.

The same day she “inappropriately allowed” a nil by mouth patient to self-administer medication and failed to set up, or failed to record that she had set up, an intravenous infusion for the same patient.

And, in September 2012, she “inappropriately signed” for the receipt of controlled drugs when she was not permitted to do so.

Ms Kivlin said: “The issues at the heart of this matter occurred whilst Mrs Penson was facing very difficult personal circumstances."

She added that Mrs Penson appeared not to have practiced as a nurse since March 2013.

In a letter sent to the NMC in February this year, the former nurse said that she did not intent to return to nursing.

She requested her name be removed from the register as remaining on it has caused her 'considerable distress and anxiety'.

Ms Kivlin said: "The panel determined that it was necessary to take action which would bring matters to an end and prevent Mrs Penson from practising in the future."

She added that the appropriate sanction of removing her name had the effect of protecting the public.