Coventry nurse abandoned hospital ward

Sep 5 2010 by Jonny Greatrex, Sunday Mercury

A NURSE who abandoned a Midland ward leaving 17 vulnerable patients without care at night has been allowed to keep her job.

Dudzai Chimuka quit her post on an observation unit while working for the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.

The medic told her bosses she needed to return home as her young son had been taken ill.

She also claimed was scared to be at work as she had recently been assaulted by a patient.

But despite being warned she was the only nurse available, Miss Chimuka walked off the ward more than nine hours before the end of her shift.

Last week she was hauled before the Nursing and Midwifery Council in London over the incident.

A panel ruled she had put patients at risk and issued her with a caution order, which will stay on file for five years.