NMC UK Strikes Off Nigerian Nurse Adekemi for Working While on Sick Leave

By Fellow Nurses Africa| September 18, 2025

In a decision that underscores the profound responsibility entrusted to healthcare professionals, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has struck off Nigerian nurse Adekemi Adefidiya from the UK register, citing dishonesty and incompetence that shattered the trust of patients and colleagues alike. This heartbreaking ruling, delivered after a meticulous panel hearing, serves as a somber reminder of the human cost when professional ethics falter in the high-stakes world of nursing.

Adekemi Adefidiya, a dedicated nurse whose career once held promise, faced the panel’s scrutiny over allegations spanning multiple incidents of misconduct. At the heart of the case was her failure to disclose critical prior employment history during her application to Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge—a prestigious institution renowned for its cardiac and thoracic care.

The NMC panel determined that Adefidiya had omitted her tenure at Barts Health NHS Trust, where she received a final written warning for gross misconduct. This warning stemmed from her working shifts at Homerton Hospital in October 2018 while claiming sick pay from Barts, an act the panel deemed deliberately dishonest.

The emotional weight of the findings extended beyond deception to direct concerns for patient safety. In February 2019, while employed at Thornbury Community Services, Adefidiya cared for a vulnerable patient with motor neurone disease under palliative care. The panel upheld charges that she neglected essential hourly observations, including blood pressure and temperature recordings, leaving critical gaps in the patient’s chart.

Her explanations for these lapses were described as “unclear and inconsistent,” with the panel rejecting her claim of ignorance as implausible for a qualified nurse.

Further lapses painted a troubling picture: Adefidiya failed to conduct required daily emergency equipment checks and omitted auscultation every two hours, protocols vital for monitoring critically ill patients. At Barts Health NHS Trust’s intensive care unit, she was found to fall short of the knowledge, skill, and judgment expected of a Band 5 nurse handling level two and three critical care cases.

Despite her defense that she lacked adequate support and training, the panel noted evidence of extended probation and supervisory assistance, concluding that her shortcomings persisted despite opportunities for growth.

This striking-off order, the NMC’s most severe sanction, permanently bars Adefidiya from practicing as a registered nurse in the UK, reflecting the regulator’s unwavering commitment to public protection. For Adefidiya, a Nigerian professional who pursued her calling across borders, the decision evokes a sense of profound loss—not just of her livelihood, but of the ideals that drew her to nursing. It highlights the delicate balance between personal struggles and professional duty, leaving a lasting impact on her legacy and the broader conversation around accountability in healthcare.

The case has ignited discussions on the pressures faced by international nurses in the UK, where the demand for skilled professionals is ever-growing. As the NMC continues to safeguard standards, this outcome serves as both a cautionary tale and a call for enhanced support systems to prevent such tragedies.

Source: CambridgeLive – Cambridgeshire Daily Newsletter

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