Essex nurse struck off for clinical failings leading to patient death

Uzoamaka Okereke, a registered adult nurse at Broomfield Hospital, has been struck off the nursing register following professional conduct failings that contributed to the death of a patient.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council Fitness to Practise Committee found that during a night shift in July 2023, Okereke failed to perform essential duties for a patient suffering from acute kidney failure and urosepsis. Specific failures included neglecting to monitor blood sugar levels, failing to provide prescribed oxygen, and failing to ensure regular observations and fluid monitoring were conducted.

The panel noted that Okereke did not accurately record the patient’s National Early Warning Score (NEWS) despite a visible deterioration in the patient’s responsiveness. These omissions were described by the panel as “clinically dangerous,” as they significantly delayed emergency treatment and exposed the patient to unnecessary risk of harm before they suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.