A FORMER Milford Haven care home manager has been suspended by the Nursing and Midwifery Council for nine months after an elderly resident was found sitting on farm machinery in a field.

Dianna Hill was accused of misconduct while working at Williamston Nursing Home but did not attend a three-day hearing to face charges of not reporting one or more incidents in 2011 to the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales or Pembrokeshire County Council’s Adult Protection Team in timely manner.

Mrs Hill was also charged with not reviewing a patient’s local authority assessment before admittance, impairing her fitness to practice.

The hearing was told that Mrs Hill did not know a patient was prone to “wandering” because she had not reviewed her file and this resident went missing.

Another was found in the grounds of the home with lacerations to her arms requiring hospital treatment but the incident was not reported and raised issues of neglect.

Five incidents were said not to have been reported to the relevant authorities, including complaints by residents about another carer.

The allegations regarding another carer were eventually reported and sanctions imposed but the NMC case against Mrs Hill states they were not reported as quickly as they should have been.

Her employment was terminated in November 2011 according to a NMC report on the case.

It added that Mrs Hill had repeatedly informed the organisation that she had retired from nursing.

Mrs Hill did not attend the hearing and was not represented.