A NURSE faces being struck off after a damning investigation into standards at a South Tyneside care home.

Ann Rigby, 50, from South Shields, was manager of Bamburgh Court Care Centre – branded in 2004 by inspectors as the worst home they had ever seen.

Elderly residents and dementia sufferers slept on dirty mattresses on the floor in rooms smeared with faeces, a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) hearing was told yesterday.

Whistle-blower Phil Brown, an experienced nurse who worked at the home for 10 weeks, revealed the alarming list of failings at the time.

The home in St Michaels’ Avenue, Westoe, South Shields, is now under new ownership, and was praised by inspectors last year.

The hearing was told that Rigby allowed Bamburgh Court to fall into a state of disrepair.

Elderly residents and those with dementia were allowed to wander the dimly lit halls unsupervised, and mouldy food was left to rot on dirty work surfaces and trolleys. Read more