Latest news with #CodeofProfessionalConductandEthics
Dublin Live
15-07-2025
- Dublin Live
Nurse admits professional misconduct over €6,300 petty cash discrepancies
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A senior nurse has admitted professional misconduct over discrepancies totalling €6,300 in a petty cash book of a charity that provides services to people with intellectual disabilities. Heide Coloso, a clinical nurse manager with St Michael's House, made admissions to an allegation of professional misconduct while acting as the Person-in-Charge at one of the charity's community houses in Grangemore Rise, Donaghmede. Ms Coloso (52), a married woman and native of the Philippines, admitted she had failed to adequately discharge her responsibility in relation to the management of the house's petty cash book on repeated occasions over a two-year period when she appeared before a fitness to practise hearing of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland on Monday. The nurse's solicitor, Michael Lanigan, said she also accepted her actions amounted to a serious falling short of the standards of conduct expected of a registered nurse as well as representing breaches of the NMBI's Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics. The inquiry heard she had failed to record 32 transactions with a total value of €6,300 in the petty cash book between January 10, 2015 and December 17, 2016. Ms Coloso also acknowledged that she had signed petty cash dockets in relation to such transactions when she knew or ought to have known that the amounts were not spent on expenses for the community house after an ATM card had been used to withdraw petty cash. The inquiry heard the nurse had submitted receipts which she knew were not recorded in the petty cash book while she was preparing financial returns for the charity's accounts department. Two other allegations relating to the improper use of a Visa purchasing card and the related recording of such transactions were withdrawn by the NMBI. Counsel for the NMBI, Neasa Bird, BL said the inquiry arose following a complaint made to the regulatory authority by St Michael's House in August 2018. Ms Bird said the charity had received a series of anonymous phone calls in early 2016 about financial irregularities at the community house in Donaghmede which was a residence for seven people with intellectual disabilities. The caller claimed cash was being withdrawn with an ATM card for petty cash but which was not being entered in the petty cash book. She noted that Ms Coloso as the Person-in-Charge was responsible for the unit's governance, operational management and administration which included overseeing its monthly budget. The inquiry heard that the ongoing day-to-day living expenses of the house in Donaghmede was funded by the HSE to the sum of €70 per resident per week. Ms Bird said an initial inquiry into the matter was satisfied that the returns submitted were balanced, although she noted that the exercise did not involve an examination of receipts. However, a more detailed audit was conducted by St Michael's House after it received another anonymous complaint in March 2017. Ms Bird said a full investigation was carried out and Ms Coloso was placed on leave after the audit discovered that a sum of €1,500 that had been withdrawn with an ATM card was unaccounted for. Ms Bird explained that the clinical nurse manager was providing monthly returns which were balanced in relation to credit card statements but was not detailing actual expenditure in the unit's petty cash book. She told the NMBI's fitness-to-practise committee that the 32 transactions were either not recorded at all or with a lesser amount. Ms Bird stressed that the audit found no discrepancies in relation to the money of residents of the house. Mr Lanigan said there was "a complete difference" between what Ms Coloso believed she was signing off for in relation to petty cash and what the charity understood. While Ms Coloso had told investigators that she was doing petty cash "to the best I can without guidelines, policies or procedures to support me," she believed she would be notified by accounts if there was any problem with her returns. However, Mr Lanigan said she now accepted that when she signed her initials on such records it was to indicate that she had "approved" them. On the issue of sanction, Ms Bird said it was recommending that Ms Coloso should be censured and that certain conditions should be imposed on her registration as a nurse. She pointed out that her actions were not a once-off but involved a very substantial amount of money over a prolonged period when Ms Coloso was the first line for ensuring that any discrepancies were identified. The NMBI has recommended that the nurse be required to notify any current or prospective employer about any findings against her and that she not be involved in any role relating to finances for a period of 24 months. Ms Bird proposed that Ms Coloso should also be required to complete a number of courses in relation on the legal and ethical aspects of nursing and financial management at her own expense. Mr Lanigan said his client had found the ending of her job with St Michael's House after 16 years to be "traumatic." However, he said she had been working as a lead nurse for the past six years and had shown insight by choosing not to have anything to do with finances "of her own volition" in her new role. He said Ms Coloso also accepted her need to complete a number of courses was "most appropriate." The chairperson of the inquiry, Muireann Ní Shiúlleabháin, said the FTP committee was satisfied that the allegation of professional misconduct was proven primarily based on the admissions of the nurse and a decision on sanction would be notified to her in due course.
Irish Daily Mirror
14-07-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Nurse admits professional misconduct at intellectual disabilities charity
A senior nurse has admitted professional misconduct over discrepancies totalling €6,300 in a petty cash book of a charity that provides services to people with intellectual disabilities. Heide Coloso, a clinical nurse manager with St Michael's House, made admissions to an allegation of professional misconduct while acting as the Person-in-Charge at one of the charity's community houses in Grangemore Rise, Donaghmede. Ms Coloso (52), a married woman and native of the Philippines, admitted she had failed to adequately discharge her responsibility in relation to the management of the house's petty cash book on repeated occasions over a two-year period when she appeared before a fitness to practise hearing of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland on Monday. The nurse's solicitor, Michael Lanigan, said she also accepted her actions amounted to a serious falling short of the standards of conduct expected of a registered nurse as well as representing breaches of the NMBI's Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics. The inquiry heard she had failed to record 32 transactions with a total value of €6,300 in the petty cash book between January 10, 2015 and December 17, 2016. Ms Coloso also acknowledged that she had signed petty cash dockets in relation to such transactions when she knew or ought to have known that the amounts were not spent on expenses for the community house after an ATM card had been used to withdraw petty cash. The inquiry heard the nurse had submitted receipts which she knew were not recorded in the petty cash book while she was preparing financial returns for the charity's accounts department. Two other allegations relating to the improper use of a Visa purchasing card and the related recording of such transactions were withdrawn by the NMBI. Counsel for the NMBI, Neasa Bird, BL said the inquiry arose following a complaint made to the regulatory authority by St Michael's House in August 2018. Ms Bird said the charity had received a series of anonymous phone calls in early 2016 about financial irregularities at the community house in Donaghmede which was a residence for seven people with intellectual disabilities. The caller claimed cash was being withdrawn with an ATM card for petty cash but which was not being entered in the petty cash book. She noted that Ms Coloso as the Person-in-Charge was responsible for the unit's governance, operational management and administration which included overseeing its monthly budget. The inquiry heard that the ongoing day-to-day living expenses of the house in Donaghmede was funded by the HSE to the sum of €70 per resident per week. Ms Bird said an initial inquiry into the matter was satisfied that the returns submitted were balanced, although she noted that the exercise did not involve an examination of receipts. However, a more detailed audit was conducted by St Michael's House after it received another anonymous complaint in March 2017. Ms Bird said a full investigation was carried out and Ms Coloso was placed on leave after the audit discovered that a sum of €1,500 that had been withdrawn with an ATM card was unaccounted for. Ms Bird explained that the clinical nurse manager was providing monthly returns which were balanced in relation to credit card statements but was not detailing actual expenditure in the unit's petty cash book. She told the NMBI's fitness-to-practise committee that the 32 transactions were either not recorded at all or with a lesser amount. Ms Bird stressed that the audit found no discrepancies in relation to the money of residents of the house. Mr Lanigan said there was 'a complete difference' between what Ms Coloso believed she was signing off for in relation to petty cash and what the charity understood. While Ms Coloso had told investigators that she was doing petty cash 'to the best I can without guidelines, policies or procedures to support me,' she believed she would be notified by accounts if there was any problem with her returns. However, Mr Lanigan said she now accepted that when she signed her initials on such records it was to indicate that she had 'approved' them. On the issue of sanction, Ms Bird said it was recommending that Ms Coloso should be censured and that certain conditions should be imposed on her registration as a nurse. She pointed out that her actions were not a once-off but involved a very substantial amount of money over a prolonged period when Ms Coloso was the first line for ensuring that any discrepancies were identified. The NMBI has recommended that the nurse be required to notify any current or prospective employer about any findings against her and that she not be involved in any role relating to finances for a period of 24 months. Ms Bird proposed that Ms Coloso should also be required to complete a number of courses in relation on the legal and ethical aspects of nursing and financial management at her own expense. Mr Lanigan said his client had found the ending of her job with St Michael's House after 16 years to be 'traumatic.' However, he said she had been working as a lead nurse for the past six years and had shown insight by choosing not to have anything to do with finances 'of her own volition' in her new role. He said Ms Coloso also accepted her need to complete a number of courses was 'most appropriate.' The chairperson of the inquiry, Muireann Ní Shiúlleabháin, said the FTP committee was satisfied that the allegation of professional misconduct was proven primarily based on the admissions of the nurse and a decision on sanction would be notified to her in due course.
Sunday World
03-07-2025
- Health
- Sunday World
Radiographer banned from conducting X-rays on under 18s over inappropriate behaviour
Peconcillo admitted he had acted in a manner that was not clinically justified or appropriate when he was carrying out a chest X-ray on a 16-year-old girl at Tallaght University Hospital A radiographer who was found guilty of professional misconduct over his inappropriate behaviour in carrying out a chest X-ray on a young female patient whom he later tried to contact via social media has been banned from conducting any radiography services on anyone under 18 for 12 months. The prohibition on carrying out X-rays on children and adolescents apart from exceptional circumstances and then only under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner is one of five conditions imposed on the registration of radiographer, Adrian Peconcillo, by CORU – the regulatory body of health and social care professionals. It follows a fitness-to-practise inquiry by CORU earlier this year at which Peconcillo admitted he had acted in a manner that was not clinically justified or appropriate when he was carrying out a chest X-ray on a 16-year-old girl at Tallaght University Hospital on January 25, 2023. The inquiry heard that the patient had come out of the changing area undressed from the waist up and covering her chest due to the failure of Peconcillo to provide her with a hospital gown prior to her undressing. Tallaght Hospital News in 90 Seconds - Thursday, July 3 The radiographer – an Irish citizen who comes originally from the Philippines – was also accused of looking at her in a forward-facing manner whilst her back was against the X-ray board and later inviting her to look at her X-ray while she remained undressed. Evidence was heard that Peconcillo had also sent the teenager one or more follow requests to her Instagram account on the same date that were inappropriate and without any clinical justification. It emerged that the radiographer had tried to contact her with his own Instagram account which was in the name of 'Adrian Wanderman'. He had originally claimed in correspondence with CORU that he had sent the Instagram request to an Australian DJ with the same name as the girl. The girl's father said his daughter had been doing her mock exams at the time and her head was 'all over the place' and she was blaming herself for the incident. The inquiry was held after a formal complaint was made to CORU about Peconcillo's behaviour by the radiography services manager at TUH, Laura Gannon. It heard that Peconcillo was suspended by TUH after the teenager's parents had made a complaint to the hospital and he was subsequently dismissed in April 2023 following an internal investigation. The CORU inquiry heard he has not worked as a radiographer since but had found employment as a phlebotomist at St Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin where he primarily works with geriatric patients but on a salary 50% less than he earned in TUH. The fitness-to-practise committee also found the radiographer's actions constituted breaches of the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics adopted by the Radiographers Registration Board. They related to his failure to maintain high standards of personal conduct and behaviour and to use social media responsibly. The committee noted that Peconcillo had shown remorse and recognised his poor judgement in dealing with the young patient. The committee's chairperson, Geraldine Feeney, said they had considered a period of suspension to be the appropriate sanction but had decided against it in circumstances where Mr Peconcillo had not worked as a radiographer for almost two years. The committee rejected an application by his legal representatives for the inquiry to be concluded by his consenting to admonishment and censure and giving an undertaking about his future conduct. Ms Feeney said the seriousness of the proven allegations required some form of sanction. She said the committee also recognised that the incidents had been devastating for the radiographer both professionally and personally after he lost his job and was refused access to his only child by his former partner. The committee observed that there were 'system shortcomings' within TUH that had facilitated Peconcillo's actions albeit they did not excuse such conduct. Other conditions imposed on the radiographer require him to complete courses relating to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults as well as ones on social media and professional practice and relating to professional ethics, trust, care and dignity in the workplace. All courses have to be completed within 12 months and at his own expense. CORU also required Peconcillo to notify any current or prospective employer about the findings against him and the conditions attached to his registration to practise as a radiographer. The decision to attach conditions to the radiographer's registration was confirmed by the High Court earlier this week.
Irish Daily Mirror
03-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Radiographer banned from conducting X-rays on anyone under 18 for 12 months
A radiographer who was found guilty of professional misconduct over his inappropriate behaviour in carrying out a chest X-ray on a young female patient whom he later tried to contact via social media has been banned from conducting any radiography services on anyone under 18 for 12 months. The prohibition on carrying out X-rays on children and adolescents apart from exceptional circumstances and then only under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner is one of five conditions imposed on the registration of radiographer, Adrian Peconcillo, by CORU – the regulatory body of health and social care professionals. It follows a fitness-to-practise inquiry by CORU earlier this year at which Peconcillo admitted he had acted in a manner that was not clinically justified or appropriate when he was carrying out a chest X-ray on a 16-year-old girl at Tallaght University Hospital on January 25, 2023. The inquiry heard that the patient had come out of the changing area undressed from the waist up and covering her chest due to the failure of Peconcillo to provide her with a hospital gown prior to her undressing. The radiographer – an Irish citizen who comes originally from the Philippines – was also accused of looking at her in a forward-facing manner whilst her back was against the X-ray board and later inviting her to look at her X-ray while she remained undressed. Evidence was heard that Peconcillo had also sent the teenager one or more follow requests to her Instagram account on the same date that were inappropriate and without any clinical justification. It emerged that the radiographer had tried to contact her with his own Instagram account which was in the name of 'Adrian Wanderman'. He had originally claimed in correspondence with CORU that he had sent the Instagram request to an Australian DJ with the same name as the girl. The girl's father said his daughter had been doing her mock exams at the time and her head was 'all over the place' and she was blaming herself for the incident. The inquiry was held after a formal complaint was made to CORU about Peconcillo's behaviour by the radiography services manager at TUH, Laura Gannon. It heard that Peconcillo was suspended by TUH after the teenager's parents had made a complaint to the hospital and he was subsequently dismissed in April 2023 following an internal investigation. The CORU inquiry heard he has not worked as a radiographer since but had found employment as a phlebotomist at St Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin where he primarily works with geriatric patients but on a salary 50% less than he earned in TUH. The fitness-to-practise committee also found the radiographer's actions constituted breaches of the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics adopted by the Radiographers Registration Board. They related to his failure to maintain high standards of personal conduct and behaviour and to use social media responsibly. The committee noted that Peconcillo had shown remorse and recognised his poor judgement in dealing with the young patient. The committee's chairperson, Geraldine Feeney, said they had considered a period of suspension to be the appropriate sanction but had decided against it in circumstances where Mr Peconcillo had not worked as a radiographer for almost two years. The committee rejected an application by his legal representatives for the inquiry to be concluded by his consenting to admonishment and censure and giving an undertaking about his future conduct. Ms Feeney said the seriousness of the proven allegations required some form of sanction. She said the committee also recognised that the incidents had been devastating for the radiographer both professionally and personally after he lost his job and was refused access to his only child by his former partner. The committee observed that there were 'system shortcomings' within TUH that had facilitated Peconcillo's actions albeit they did not excuse such conduct. Other conditions imposed on the radiographer require him to complete courses relating to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults as well as ones on social media and professional practice and relating to professional ethics, trust, care and dignity in the workplace. All courses have to be completed within 12 months and at his own expense. CORU also required Peconcillo to notify any current or prospective employer about the findings against him and the conditions attached to his registration to practise as a radiographer. The decision to attach conditions to the radiographer's registration was confirmed by the High Court earlier this week.
Dublin Live
18-06-2025
- Health
- Dublin Live
'Happily married' nurse 'crossed the line' texting 'creeped out' teen patient
A nurse who made inappropriate and sexualised comments and sent follow-up text messages to a young female patient attending Beaumont Hospital in Dublin two years ago has been found guilty of professional misconduct. The nurse, Mark Lester Ordonez, admitted to a fitness-to-practise inquiry of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland that he had "crossed the line" in his interactions with the 18-year-old girl when she attended the hospital on June 21, 2023 for a endoscopy procedure but begged to be given a second chance for his "stupid mistake." The NMBI inquiry found five separate allegations of professional misconduct proven against the Filipino nurse which included allegations relating to texts sent later the same day by Mr Ordonez to what he believed was the girl's mobile phone but which actually belonged to her mother. The inquiry chairperson, Mary Leahy, said Mr Ordonez's behaviour represented a serious falling short of the standards expected of a registered nurse and he had "crossed a boundary" by making a serious of personal and inappropriate remarks to a vulnerable, anxious patient and subsequently making unsolicited contact with her by text message. Ms Leahy also said the nurse should not have contacted the patient's mother who had made a legitimate complaint about him, while his actions also represented a breach of the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for nurses. In a written statement, the girl – identified only as Patient A – explained she was anxious about doing her Leaving Cert and it was the first time she did not need to be accompanied by one of her parents for an endoscopy as she had turned 18, although her mother was waiting for her in the hospital. Patient A said she was taken aback by the nurse asking her: "Are any boys adding to your stress?" The girl said she tried to laugh it off but felt extremely awkward before the nurse said: "You are too pretty not to have a boyfriend" and "You remind me of my ex-girlfriend in Germany." Patient A said the atmosphere in the room had changed at that stage and she felt "really uncomfortable" and there was an awkward silence. The inquiry heard that the teenager fainted as she was going to have the procedure. After it was finished, Patient A said she wanted to leave the hospital as soon as possible and described how her mother was shocked to hear about the nurse's comments on their way home. The girl said she never wanted to be the reason why the nurse lost his job. In a separate statement, Patient A's mother said she did not make too much of what happened at first apart from feeling uncomfortable that the nurse was too old to be looking at her daughter in that way. The woman said she was shopping later that evening when she received a text which appeared to come from Mr Ordonez which mentioned her daughter's name. It read: "Sorry to bother you and can't help myself to look into your number. If you are not happy or comfortable for me to message you just let me know. I'm so sorry again if that's the case." Patient A's mother recalled: "I nearly dropped with shock...I felt sick at the realisation that Mr Ordonez was essentially asking [Patient A] out." The woman said she received another text from Mr Ordonez later that evening which stated: "By the way, what happened to you a while ago is called vasovagal syncope." She said she could not believe the nurse had texted again, while her daughter was "a bit creeped out." The woman said she contacted the hospital the following day to make a complaint. The inquiry heard she contacted Beaumont again the following month after receiving an aggressive text from Mr Ordonez on July 25, 2023 which read: "I hope you are happy now. I got terminated." The inquiry heard that Beaumont Hospital took the decision to end the nurse's probationary period on that date following the complaint in relation to Patient A. Counsel for the NMBI, Miska Hanahoe BL, said the nurse's comments to the patient were inappropriate and of a sexual nature, while he had also inappropriately accessed her medical records to obtain her contact number and send a number of text messages when there was no clinical justification. The inquiry heard Mr Ordonez had offered "heartfelt apologies" to Patient A and her family for his actions but explained he was new to Ireland at the time. The nurse claimed "every day is a learning experience" as he adapted to the culture, rights and responsibilities which operated in Ireland. Mr Ordonez gave evidence that he was a happily married man with a six-year-old son who had moved to Ireland to build a better life for his family. When working in the Philippines, the nurse said he would feel a responsibility to endoscopy patients after work by checking how they were after the procedure and did not realise that GDPR was "such a big issue" in Ireland, although he had received training about it. Asked about his comments to Patient A, Mr Ordonez told his counsel, Bébhinn Murphy BL, that he was just making some joke as he saw the girl was really stressed. Mr Ordonez explained he just tried to "make things light" by appreciating her physique but denied having any sexual or flirtatious intention. He said he sent texts later that evening "out of concern and nothing else" and to give her some information. Mr Ordonez said if he had any other intention he would have asked Patient A if she was free for a coffee. The nurse admitted he had sent the text to the girl's mother the following month as a result of the anger, frustration and anxiety he felt after his employment at Beaumont was terminated. The inquiry heard Mr Ordonez has been employed at St James's Hospital in Dublin since April 2024 where a character reference from one of his managers stated that he was an individual of the highest integrity with an exemplary record, professionally and personally. At the conclusion of the inquiry, Ms Leahy said the fitness-to-practise committee would submit a report to the NMBI board together with a recommended sanction.
