EBOLA nurse Pauline Cafferkey has been accused of “intending to conceal” that she had a fever during a medical screening.
Miss Cafferkey was originally infected with the disease while working at a Save the Children’s treatment facility in Sierra Leone, West Africa in December 2014.
The 40-year-old, from Crossgates, Fife, has been under investigation by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) which has now, for the first time, revealed its case against her.
Details have emerged claiming that the health worker intentionally tried to conceal that her temperature was over 38 degrees during a screening.
And a further accusation reveals that during the screening the Scot didn’t to let medical staff know she had taken paracetamol – known to treat pain and lower fevers.
If the allegations against her, due to be heard at a hearing in Edinburgh next month, are found proved she could be struck off.
The NMC charges state: “That you, a registered nurse, on 29 December 2015 whilst in the
Public Health England (PHE) screening area at Terminal 4, gave incorrect responses to questions 4.1 and/or 4.2 of the screening form and allowed an incorrect temperature to be recorded on your PHE screening form.
“On 29 December 2015 left the PHE screening area without reporting your true temperature to PHE staff.
“On 29 December 2015 when having your temperature taken by Dr 1, did not tell her that you had recently taken paracetamol.”
The last charge reads: “Your conduct as set out in charges 1 and/or 2 above was dishonest in that: you knew your temperature was above 38 degrees. You intended to conceal from PHE staff that you had a temperature higher than 38 degrees.
“And in light of the above, your fitness to practise is impaired by reason of your misconduct.”
The nurse of 16 years volunteered to help tackle the Ebola outbreak in West Africa after responding to an appeal made by the NHS.
In December 2014 she returned back home to Scotland complaining that she felt unwell and had a high temperature.
Within days she was taken to the Royal Free Hospital in London where she spent almost a month in isolation and was described as being in “critical” condition.
But at the end of January 2015 she was discharged.
In October last year, the Scottish nurse fell ill and was taken to the Royal Free Hospital for a second time where doctors discovered she had meningitis caused by the Ebola.
She returned home in November after making a full recovery but in February this year she became ill for a third time due to a complication from her previous Ebola virus.
The following week she was discharged while a Royal Free Hospital spokesman confirmed Cafferkey was no longer infectious.
“The report on how they are dealing with my case is still ongoing.
“I don’t know why it has not been finished. It’s very stressful. It would be nice to have closure.
On the specific allegations, Miss Cafferkey said: “My lawyer just says I can’t speak about it. I am unable to discuss the investigation whilst it is ongoing and I am looking forward to its conclusion.”
