Bridget M Boyce

In your role as a Biomedical Scientist at Western Health and Social Care Trust (“WHSCT”), between around January 2012 and March 2015 you:

1. Failed to ensure that clinical processes within the Histopathology Department (“the Department”) were being carried out to the required standard in that you:

a. caused or allowed out of date antibodies to be used, without first testing to see if they were fit for purpose;

b. failed to ensure verification of antibodies was carried out;

c. failed to ensure validation and/or stock control was carried out in line with the relevant Trust policies;

d. failed to ensure ‘prep kits’ were labelled correctly;

e. caused or allowed antibodies to be ‘topped up’ rather than implementing a planned time and/or process for making them up;

f. Did not ensure there was an adequate policy in place for the use of antibodies.

2. Did not ensure that staff appraisals were being conducted regularly in the Department.

3. Did not ensure staff in the Department received adequate training.

4. Failed to ensure that record keeping within the Department was being carried out to the required standard, in that you:

a. backdated staff training documents in around October 2015 to make it appear the documentation had been completed in around November 2014;

b. Recorded that you had carried out staff appraisals, when you had not done so;

c. failed to complete non-conformity forms, despite indicating to colleagues at departmental and/or directorate quality meetings that the correct procedures were being followed.

d. failed to ensure accurate records of stock usage and/or product expiry dates were kept.

5. In respect of Enniskillen Mortuary, you failed to:

a. Identify and/or address the fact that bodies and body parts were not being stored for longer than indicated in the Trust’s Standard Operating Procedures;

b. Ensure that there was an assurance process for the release of bodies;

c. Ensure that the Mortuary Register was completed accurately;

d. ensure adequate policies were in place regarding the storage of bodies and/or body parts;

e. ensure staff received adequate training;

f. attend the mortuary on a regular basis.

6. Your conduct at paragraphs 4(a) and/or 4(b) and/ or 4(c) was:

a. Misleading

b. Dishonest

7. The matters set out at paragraphs 1 to 3 and/or 5 constitute misconduct and/or lack of competence.

8. The matters set out at paragraph 4 and/or 6 constitute misconduct.

9. Your fitness to practise as a Biomedical Scientist is impaired by reason of your misconduct and/or lack of competence.