Accused can carry on nursing - The Times 6th November 2007

INNOCENT until proven guilty is supposed to be a fundamental principle of British law. But until now, nurses and care workers accused of misconduct haven’t always been afforded that protection. Nursing Standard (Oct 31) reports on a Court of Appeal ruling that will ensure that care workers have a chance to refute allegations made against them before being suspended from work. The Protection of Vulnerable Adults (Pova) list was introduced in 2004. Employers could refer workers to the Health Secretary if they were believed to pose a risk to vulnerable adults. A worker could then be placed on a provisional Pova list and suspended from work while an investigation took place. Of 1,552 people placed on the provisional list by September last year, 623 later had their names removed, 498 were confirmed on to the full Pova list and the other cases remain unresolved.

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