A NURSE branded “incompetent and inexperienced” had been suspended from her job for numerous errors before taking care of a man who died as a result of a ventilator being switched off, an inquest heard.

The inquest into the death of terminally-ill patient Matthew Simmonds heard that his ventilator had been turned off on the night of his death.

Kadiatu Harris denied having any involvement with the switching on or off of the ventilator.

Mrs Harris had previously worked at Poole Hospital during 2010 to 2011 where she made several errors over drug dosages resulting in her being suspended for three months, the hearing was told yesterday. (THURS)

Following her suspension she was signed off with stress and later resigned.

While off sick, she worked as a nurse for Wimborne Nursing Agency and agreed to take care of Matthew Simmonds, 39, who was dying from a rare genetic condition called von Hippel-Lindau disease.

He needed round-the-clock care at his home in Oakmount Road, Chandler's Ford.

Mrs Harris told the hearing said she was aware of the “incompetent and inexperienced” accusation made by her colleague Fauzia Rust who also nursed Mr Simmonds.

She claimed she had not been made fully aware of Mr Simmonds' condition.

“At that time all I knew was he was reliant on the ventilator and his nurse,” she said. “There was no mention of palliative care.”

She claims the handover conducted by Mrs Rust, was rushed and had not been conducted properly, causing confusion as to whose responsibility it was to change over the ventilators.

Mrs Harris became emotional when pressed about the changeover.

She said: “I was expecting a critical care handover but Mrs Rust briefly told me about it and I was introduced to Matthew. I thought I was to be told a bit more about the patient and what had happened during the day. All through the handover I felt she was rushing.”

“For me it was all about Matthew; it was all about the patient.”

The inquest is due to finish today.