Care home manager suspended by nursing watchdog for watching 'granny porn' at work

The deputy manager of Ashlea House care home in Stirling, has been suspended for 12 months by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, after he watched ‘granny porn’ and ‘blonde cougars’, on a computer at work.

David Campbell, who is a registered nurse, had been employed at the home in Callander, which cares for older people and people with learning and physical disabilities, since 2001.

The disciplinary hearing held on 15 September by the Conduct and Competence Committee for the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) found his Fitness to Practice was impaired.

Mr Campbell previously admitted to the NMC, that on 16 January 2013, he had accessed porn on a number of websites.

Two members of staff who used the computer on 31 January 2013 noticed the internet history showed pornographic websites had been accessed on 16 January.

One of the members of staff took a photograph of the computer screen with her mobile phone. The other member of staff found Mr Campbell was the only nurse on duty that day. The computer was only used by the nurses to update residents’ care plans.

The staff member informed the senior staff nurse who reported the incident to the care home manager. The manager failed to carry out an investigation and informed Mr Campbell of the accusation. As a result, the senior staff nurse contacted the police and the Care Inspectorate in Scotland.

Due to potential adult protection issues, the matter was referred to Adult Support and Protection (ASP) at Stirling Council.

Mr Campbell was then suspended by the care home and he formally resigned from his job at the home from 21 June 2013.

A case conference was held where police said there was no evidence to show the residents had been harmed. Mr Campbell admitted to deleting the internet history.

On being interviewed, Mr Campbell said he had “not knowingly or intentionally accessed any such sites”.

The sites included ‘granny porn’ and ‘blonde cougars’.

The panel chair, Anne Booth, said: “Mr Campbell admits that the facts, which form the basis of this charge, amount to misconduct in accordance with the authority of Roylance v GMC [2000] 1 AC 311 in that his conduct fell short of what would have been proper in the circumstances.

“In particular the parties agree that Mr Campbell has breached the following provisions of the NMC Code: Standards of Conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives.”

She added: “Members of the public have the right to expect that a registered nurse entrusted with the care of vulnerable members of the public will remain focused on their care and protection rather than accessing inappropriate material.

“The registrant’s actions placed a junior colleague in a very difficult and uncomfortable position and could have further affected working relationships which in turn had the potential to impact upon resident care.”

The panel found that whilst there was no suggestion of any harm caused to patients in Mr Campbell’s care by his actions, his conduct was inappropriate, unacceptable and occurred whilst on duty as the deputy manager of the home and the only qualified nurse present.

Mr Campbell did not attend the hearing and revealed in correspondence with the panel earlier this year that he does not intend to work as a nurse again.

The home is part of a group of care homes owned by Mauricare Ascot Care Limited.