Stephen Hawking’s nurse, 61, of 15 years is struck off after probe into financial misconduct and dishonesty claims found she ‘failed to provide the care world-famous scientist deserved’
- Patricia Dowdy, 61, struck off the nursing register over her care of the scientist
- Charges included financial misconduct, dishonesty and not providing appropriate care
- Spokesman for the Hawking family said they have ‘trust’ in panel’s judgement
The former nurse of Professor Stephen Hawking has been struck off the nursing register after a panel found she failed to provide appropriate care to the late scientist.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) said on Tuesday that Patricia Dowdy ‘failed to provide the standards of good, professional care that we expect and Professor Hawking deserved’.
Mrs Dowdy, who worked for the Hawking family for 15 years, had faced multiple misconduct charges in relation to the care she provided to Prof Hawking.
The nurse was handed an interim suspension in March 2016. Speaking after her suspension the Hawkings said they were relieved the ‘traumatic’ ordeal was over.
The Mail on Sunday, which first reported the story, said the family of Prof Hawking had lodged a complaint which prompted the investigation into Mrs Dowdy.
A hearing into her professional conduct, which began in February, was held behind closed doors.
Patricia Dowdy (centre) and Stephen Hawking were seen together during his public appearances as she cared for him. However, her practice has now been slammed
The NMC said the charges included financial misconduct, dishonesty, not providing appropriate care, failing to cooperate with the NMC and not having the correct qualifications.
Prof Hawking died in March last year at the age of 76.
Matthew McClelland, director of fitness to practise at the NMC, said: ‘The panel has found Mrs Dowdy failed to provide the standards of good, professional care that we expect and Professor Hawking deserved.
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George Osborne is seen with Dowdy and the professor at an event
‘As a result, Mrs Dowdy will no longer be able to practice as a nurse.
‘As the public rightly expects, in serious cases such as this – where a nurse has failed in their duty of care and has not been able to evidence to the panel that they have learned from their mistakes and be fit to practise – we will take action.
‘We have remained in close contact with the Hawking family throughout this case and I am grateful to them – as they approach the anniversary of Professor Hawking’s death – and others for sharing their concerns with us.
‘My thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.’
A spokesperson for the family said; ‘The Hawking family are relieved this traumatic ordeal has now concluded and that as a result of the verdict, others will not have to go through what they suffered from this individual.
‘We want to thank the NMC for their thorough investigation.’
Professor Hawking, one of the most renowned scientists in his field, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 1964 at the age of 22 and given just a few years to live.
The father-of-three was later confined to a wheelchair and relied upon a computer to communicate, but continued to travel the world to present lectures and further scientific knowledge.
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