A NURSE has been struck off for pushing a patient during a dispute over a cigarette.

Angela Marsh was deemed to have used unnecessary force against a ‘service user’ at Radcliffe Meadows Care Home in Culcheth in September 2010.

The incident happened when the patient woke early and requested a cigarette from Mrs Marsh, of Hope Street, Leigh, who refused because the patient’s care plan stated she was not allowed one until 5.30am.

The patient became aggressive towards her along with another junior care assistant, who later gave evidence at the Old Bailey Nursing and Midwifery Council hearing, before stealing a cigarette from a patient who had been woken by the noise.

Having already pushed the patient twice to try to get away from her, Mrs Marsh snatched the lit cigarette from the patient and pushed her again with such force that she banged her head against a brick wall.

The panel accepted that two of the pushes were reasonable but ‘snatching the lit cigarette was unreasonable and pushing her a third time was neither necessary nor a reasonable course of action’.

Warrington Borough Living, which runs the care home, welcomed the decision and said Mrs Marsh was suspended as soon as the incident came to light.

Chief executive Michael Sheppard said: “Mrs Marsh’s behaviour was entirely unacceptable and she let down her professional training and qualification, her colleagues and - most importantly to us as an organisation - the people that we support, who can be vulnerable and require the very highest level of specialist assistance that we can offer in order to thrive and enjoy their lives.”