A NURSE has been accused of letting down babies and their families for more than five years.

Carol Anita Thorington has been called to answer allegations of misconduct by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Ms Thorington, who worked as a neonatal outreach nurse for Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust between May 2009 and March 2014 is alleged to have “failed to demonstrate the standard of knowledge, skill and judgement required for practice without supervision as a registered nurse”.

Neonatal outreach nurses are employed to provide care, advice and support to families whose babies are referred to them after being discharged from children’s wards or neonatal units.

Ms Thorrington is facing eight accusations. It is alleged she failed to “demonstrate the required skills in the placement and management of nasogastric tubes”.

The tubes go from the nose, down the throat and to the stomach and are used to provide food and drugs or drain the stomach.

Serious problems can be caused by incorrect placements.

She is also accused of failing to provide sufficient feeding advice to parents, unsatisfactory communication with them and with colleagues and inadequate record keeping.

The charge states: “In light of the above, your fitness to practise is impaired by reason of your lack of competence and /or misconduct.”

While the investigation was being carried out, between March 2014 and January 2015, Ms Thorrington was moved to the neonatal unit at Colchester General Hospital to work under supervision.

It is alleged she did not comply with the conditions of the supervision and attempted to conceal the fact she was subject to a “fitness to practise investigation” when applying for other jobs.

The hearing is due to begin on Wednesday.

None of the allegations have been proven.

  •  A second Colchester based nurse is also facing a hearing in front of the same council this week.

The mental health nurse has been accused of entering into a sexual relationship with a patient.

Amanda Louise Plater is facing a hearing in front of the Nursing and Midwifery Council starting on Thursday.

Ms Plater, is accused of entering into a relationship while employed by the North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, the mental health trust covering Colchester and Tendring.

She is accused of having an “inappropriate relationship”, both personal and sexual, with a “service user” between December 2011 and July 2014.

It is alleged her fitness to practice is impaired as a result of the alleged misconduct.

She faces two charges.

The allegations have not been proven.