A NURSE branded “incompetent and inexperienced” had been suspended from her job for numerous mistakes before she took on the care of a man who died as a result of a ventilator being switched off, an inquest heard.

The inquest into the death of terminally-ill patient Matthew Simmonds has heard that his ventilator has been turned off on the night of his death.

But nurse Kadiatu Harris denied having any involvement with the switching on or off of the ventilator.

The hearing was told how Mrs Harris had previously worked at Poole Hospital during 2010 to 2011 where she made several errors over drug dosage resulting in her being suspended for three months.

Following her suspension she was signed off with stress and later resigned.

But while off sick, she worked as a nurse for Wimborne Nursing Agency and agreed to take care of Matthew Simmonds, 39, who was dying from a rare genetic condition called von Hippel-Lindau disease.

He needed round-the-clock care at his home in Oakmount Road, Chandler’s Ford.

Mrs Harris told the hearing said she was aware of the “incompetent and inexperienced” accusation made by her colleague Fauzia Rust who also nursed Mr Simmonds.

She also claimed she had not been made fully aware of Mr Simmonds’ condition and became emotional as she told the inquest that there was “confusion” over who was responsible to change over his ventilators.

Proceeding.