A nurse has been struck off for a year after allegedly kicking a patient in the head at a South London hospital. 

Kadiatu Jalloh also thrust a chair at the unnamed man’s head while he was being restrained at Cygnet Hospital Blackheath in March 2020.

The private hospital cares for men with mental health problems. 

A Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) panel – which hears cases against nurses – said that Jalloh’s behaviour was a “serious departure” from the standards nurses  are expected to maintain and amounted to misconduct.

She was suspended for 12 months by a panel of nurses following a hearing earlier in January. 

A healthcare assistant who allegedly witnessed Jalloh kick the man, known only as Patient A, recalled being “livid… angry and upset” following the incident at the hospital on March 11, 2020, according to the NMC’s report of the hearing. 

Jalloh denied kicking the patient or thrusting a chair towards him, claiming she was pulling her leg away from him and giving the chair to another nurse.

But the panel found both charges proved after viewing CCTV footage and taking evidence from a man, known only as Mr 1, a healthcare assistant at Cygnet Hospital Blackheath.

Describing Jalloh’s behaviour as “deplorable,” the panel said her actions were a “serious departure from the standards expected of a registered nurse.”

Minutes of the panel’s decision read: “It [the panel] bore in mind that Patient A had struck you prior to the hospital staff restraining him and considered that your reaction, in the fast moving events… was a reaction to this.

"However, the panel considered that there still would have been an expectation for a nurse of your standing and experience, to control your reaction and remain professional. 

“The panel also bore in mind that you were the nurse in charge during this incident and noted that, in your oral evidence, you stated that it was your role to ensure the restraint was applied properly.

"Instead, the panel noted that you thrust a chair in the direction of where Patient A was facing and kicked him at least once.”

Following the incident, Jalloh was suspended from the hospital while an investigation into her behaviour took place.

Cygnet Health Care sacked her in May 2020 on the grounds of gross misconduct after a disciplinary hearing. 

In April, while still suspended, Jalloh applied to work at Homerton University Hospital in Hackney.

But Jalloh failed to mention she had been employed by Cygnet Health Care on her application form. 

The panel described the omission as ‘dishonest.’

Minutes of its decision read: “An experienced nurse such as yourself would have completed job applications in the past and would have known what was expected of you. 

“The panel considered that it was evident that you were avoiding questions that could undermine your application by answering dishonestly.

"As a result the potential employer was not given sufficient information to make a judgement on your suitability.”

Jalloh avoided being banned from working as a nurse for good by the panel, despite the NMC’s solicitor arguing this was needed to protect the public.

The panel noted Jalloh’s experience as a nurse and previously unblemished record in its decision.

Minutes read: “The panel determined that a suspension order, unlike a striking off order, would provide the opportunity to return an otherwise experienced nurse with a previously unblemished record to practise.

"It considered that it is in the public interest to return nurses to the Register where possible”

A spokesperson for Cygnet Health Care said: “[We] operate a zero tolerance policy on abuse and the incident in question was immediately reported to the appropriate authorities.

"The individual concerned was immediately suspended and following a thorough internal investigation, was subsequently dismissed.

“We take allegations of wrongdoing extremely seriously and the care of our patients will always remain our top priority.”