A NURSE who branded dementia patients in a York care home “disgusting” for soiling their bedding and “robbed residents of their dignity” has been struck off.

Christina Cooper physically and verbally abused three patients at the Viking Wing in Connaught Care Home in Fulford, the Nursing and Midwifery Council hearing in London was told.

Cooper told one resident: “You’re an animal, you’re disgusting.”

She also shoved another patient’s soiled sheet in his face and told him: “When dogs do this, their owners rub their noses in it.”

She has been struck off the nursing register as her fitness to practise as a nurse is impaired by misconduct following the incidents in October and November 2009.

Judith Worthington, chair of the panel, said: “She displayed a pattern of conduct towards some residents with dementia, particularly when they exhibited challenging behaviour or had soiled themselves, which was such that they were robbed of their dignity.

“It follows that, in providing care for residents, Mrs Cooper did not always treat them kindly or considerately, nor did she respect their dignity.

“Mrs Cooper’s misconduct was not an isolated incident but was repeated and occurred over a number of shifts involving four different residents; Mrs Cooper has not demonstrated insight.

“This is not a single instance of misconduct but a pattern of behaviour which occurred over a number of shifts.

“Mrs Cooper’s misconduct undermines confidence in the profession. In the panel's judgement, her misconduct is fundamentally incompatibly with remaining on the register.”

Cooper was immediately suspended from the care home – which cares for about 90 people, providing residental nursing and dementia care – after concerns were raised, its owners the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution (RMBI) said.

Care assistant Amy Redpath had told the hearing how Cooper barged into patients’ rooms during the night, switched the main light on and roughly changed their incontinence pads.

Cooper told one man, referred to as Patient A, he was “disgusting” as she roughly changed his bedding on October 9, 2009.

“It was horrible to watch, and it was horrible because I couldn’t do anything about it,” she said.

Mrs Redpath said Cooper had threatened another colleague who said she would report her, saying “I will make your life hell”.

Cooper had denied all allegations against her.

Charges she failed to provide one resident appropriate care and threatened to strangle another were found not proved.

A spokesman for RMBI said Cooper was investigated and dismissed on the grounds of gross misconduct.

He said: “The RMBI fully condemns the actions and behaviour of Ms Cooper, which were entirely inappropriate and contrary to the high standards expected for all members of our staff.

“The RMBI is committed to providing quality care to all of its residents whose safety and well being is of paramount importance, and takes its responsibility for safeguarding vulnerable adults very seriously.

“As such, the RMBI adopt a zero-tolerance policy in respect of the rare occasions where that trust is broken, to ensure that staff behaviour reflect our core values.”