Nurse who swiped patients’ cakes and left dying man to go on break struck off

A NURSE who swiped patients’ cakes and puddings and left a dying man to go on a break has been struck off.

Teresa Bacon also ignored a request to change dressings, telling the woman: “Tears don’t work for me.”

She shouted at a patient, asked another to get her a coffee and told one sick person: “You will eat!”

A colleague at the Royal Blackburn Hospital said Ms Bacon regularly had “pockets full of food” and would help hand out trays so she could “access cakes”.

One patient’s pudding “disappeared” when Ms Bacon was the only other person there, it was said.

The digestive diseases nurse, of Burnley, was described as “uninterested” when asked to help a man, Patient A, with breathing difficulties.

She put an oxygen mask on him then took a break, having to be called back when he stopped breathing.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council found all 17 allegations proven against Bacon.

It said her actions were “deplorable and caused actual harm”.

Peter Murphy, chief nurse at the trust, said "poor and disrespectful" behaviour would be dealt with "firmly".

He said: "I want to add that the actions of this person do not reflect the majority of compassionate and hard working colleagues who are caring for people across all services every day."

Ms Bacon was struck off the register and has been given 28 days to appeal but failed to attend her fitness to practise hearing.