Nurse struck off for exploiting 99-year-old resident

Rebecca Burwood, a former deputy manager at Bryn Yr Haul Care Home in Mold, has been struck off the nursing register after exploiting a vulnerable 99-year-old woman. A Nursing and Midwifery Council tribunal found that Burwood used manipulation, coercion, and “emotional blackmail” to siphon approximately £770,000 from the resident between 2017 and 2023.

Burwood allegedly secured Lasting Power of Attorney for the woman’s property and financial affairs without disclosing it to the care home. The exploitation included the transfer of the woman’s £400,000 home to Burwood and the withdrawal of over £370,000 from her bank account, including £160,000 in cash from ATMs.

Funds were reportedly used for Burwood’s home improvements, utility bills, vehicle purchases—including a car and a campervan—and allegedly personal cosmetic surgery. While Burwood’s legal representative claimed the resident had authorized certain withdrawals for charitable donations, the tribunal concluded that Burwood weaponized the woman's trust and isolation to acquire the funds.