A nurse with Donegal roots who survived Ebola has been cleared of misconduct charges by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Pauline Cafferkey, 40, a cousin of soccer legend Packie Bonner, was infected while working in Sierra Leone in 2014.
She faced charges for allegedly allowing a wrong temperature to be recorded during the screening process at Heathrow on her arrival in the UK.
The conduct and competence panel dismissed the charges after hearing she had been impaired by illness. Another charge of dishonesty was withdrawn.
Pauline Cafferkey’s lawyer Joyce Cullen reads a statement on her behalf outside the hearing in Edinburgh
Afterwards, Ms Cafferkey’s lawyer, Joyce Cullen, said her client was “relieved” to have been cleared of wrongdoing after “willingly” putting her life at risk to help people suffering from Ebola.
She said that the medics returning from Sierra Leone had encountered “chaotic scenes” and put the focus on Public Health England for the ordeal her client had endured.
“Public Health England were unprepared for the volume of people returning from countries affected by Ebola,” Ms Cullen said.
“There were also serious failures in communication amongst the Public Health England staff.
“It is perhaps ironic that given the criticisms made about Public Health England processes, it was their complaint which led to the Nursing and Midwifery Council investigation and these proceedings being initiated against Pauline.”
Ms Cullen concluded by saying that Ms Cafferkey would “never have knowingly put anyone in danger”.
“Pauline was lucky to survive and since her return from Sierra Leone has continued to suffer from ill health,” she said.
“The NMC disciplinary process has been very upsetting and stressful for Pauline. However, she’s delighted that the panel has made the decision that she has no case to answer and that she’s now able to continue her nursing career in Scotland, where she will carry on looking after families in Blantyre, who’ve been very appreciative of her skills and dedication.”
After Ms Cafferkey was cleared, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “Sending my very best wishes to Pauline Cafferkey. Her bravery is an inspiration to all of us.”
Last month it emerged that Ms Cafferkey would face charges from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) over alleged misconduct when she returned to the UK in December 2014.
When the panel hearing got under way on Tuesday, the NMC withdrew a charge of dishonesty, leaving her facing three charges.
