A nurse was seen punching, slapping and kicking an elderly dementia patient in her care - but fled the country before she could be arrested.
Lohan Monalisa Maria was supposed to be looking after the 'vulnerable' resident at the Birch Tree Manor care home in Port Sunlight, Wirral. Instead she was spotted 'slapping his head' despite him telling her to 'get off', Liverpool Echo reports.
Monalisa Maria, who was working as a night manager at the time of the distressing incident on October 28, 2019, was struck off after an investigation by regulator the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
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The incident is the second time a staff member at Birch Tree Manor has been caught abusing a vulnerable patient. In 2021 former carer Valentina Baghiu received a suspended sentence at Wirral Magistrates' Court for taunting and poking a helpless elderly woman with dementia between May and November, 2019.
Bond Care, which runs the home, told the ECHO Birch Tree Manor was taken over by new management in October 2019 and new measures have been put in place to protect residents.
In the most recent incident, a health care assistant (HCA) at the home, referred to as Colleague B, saw Monalisa Maria launch a shocking attack on the man. In a witness statement, she said: "I witnessed Lohan slap Resident A on the side of his head on a number of occasions. Lohan slapped Resident A on the side of head.
"She slapped him with one hand and then used her other hand and she did this on at least three times Resident A shouted “get off, f***off” repeatedly and was very angry. I did not witness Resident A hit Lohan."
Another HCA, Colleague C, also saw the assaults and added: "To my absolute shock Ms Maria approached [Resident A] from behind and whilst she was standing behind [Resident A] she slapped both sides of his head a few times. I could not believe what I had witnessed, I felt absolutely disgusted and words cannot describe how sad I felt for [Resident A]. [Resident A] wobbled when Maria slapped him and I was scared that [Resident A] may fall."
The pair also saw Monalisa Maria punch the man three times in the back. Colleague C said: "I vividly recall thinking she had used some force to punch him".
Finally, the women recalled the nurse kicking Resident A in his buttocks to force him to his room. The HCAs reported Monalisa Maria that night and she was suspended with immediate effect. According to a written NMC ruling: "There is currently an ongoing police investigation regarding the allegations of abuse. However, the police have confirmed that they have not been able to make contact with Ms Monalisa Maria as she has left the country."
A Merseyside Police spokeswoman confirmed a "suspect had been identified" following allegations of assault and "circulated as wanted" but that no arrests have been made. An independent disciplinary panel convened by the NMC found three charges against Monalisa Maria, relating to the slaps, punches and kicks, proved.
However the panel cleared her of leaving Resident A in soiled clothing, and also of working at the home without professional indemnity insurance. The panel found that only a striking off order would suffice.
It wrote: "The panel determined that abuse of any patient is inherently serious and found that the misconduct in this case reflected harmful deep-seated personality and attitudinal problems. It also found no evidence of insight or remorse, and a consequent risk of repetition.
"The conduct, as highlighted by the facts found proved, was a significant departure from the standards expected of a registered nurse. The panel determined that there was no evidence to suggest that Ms Monalisa Maria would use a period of suspension to address the specific concerns raised about her conduct in this matter."
A spokesman for Bond Care said: "We are saddened and disappointed that these incidents occurred in our home. Since October 2019 we have had a change in management in the home and installed monitoring devices to further safeguard the wellbeing of our residents and staff.
"The health and wellbeing of our residents is our number one priority and this episode is not a reflection on our outstanding and dedicated staff and home."
