A bullying healthcare nurse told a vulnerable care home resident they "didn't deserve to be alive", a disciplinary panel has heard.

Kathleen Martin has been struck off after repeatedly treating two residents badly at Bethany House Nursing Home in Dymchurch.

A misconduct hearing was told that the senior nurse was rude and aggressive towards one patient, known only as patient A, intending to "threaten and/or intimidate him".

Giving evidence, the anonymous patient spoke of an argument in July 2020 where the nurse pushed her face close to his, called him an idiot and told him that he should not be living.

"It made me feel small, insignificant [and that I] wouldn't be missed," he explained, adding that the incident made him feel "two inches high".

A senior care worker witnessed the incident and later told the panel they were concerned and "could see that patient A felt vulnerable and belittled" by Mrs Martin's behaviour.

They added that Mrs Martin attempted to "scold patient A like a child," threatening to tell his mother about his swearing and telling him he would have to move out of the care home if it continued, adding that the patient had been affected "for days" by worrying about being evicted and his mum being told about his behaviour.

"Katie just wanted to get the job done as quick and easily as possible"

"Patient A told me that because of what Katie said to him on July 30, 2020, he had been afraid of his mum knowing about what had happened," the witness said.

"Although it is not documented in the minutes of my meeting with him, he told me that he had spent days worrying about his mum being told."

Additionally, Mrs Martin repeatedly refused to reason with the patient – who is diabetic – why he was not allowed dessert, or needed to wait.

"Katie just says ‘no pudding for you today’. The same thing happens with takeaways, Katie just wanted to get the job done as quick and easily as possible," they said.

The panel sitting earlier this month also heard that several issues arose between Mrs Martin and a second patient, who suffers from a brain injury.

This included incidents of being "verbally aggressive" with him, and speaking in a "clipped" tone.

Considering all of the allegations, the panel of the Nursing and Midwifery Council Fitness to Practise Committee struck Mrs Martin from the register after finding her guilty of misconduct.

Bethany House Nursing Home has been contacted for comment.