West Lothian care worker admits to manhandling patient

Sep 17 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A CARE worker has ended up in court after she admitted manhandling an elderly patient at a West Lothian care home.

Helen Wornin, 50, was helping a patient out of bed at Heatherfield Nursing Home, in Armadale, when the 70 year old’s leg became trapped.

Despite colleagues warning Wornin the patient was stuck and in pain, she became frustrated and started pulling at the leg to free it.

Worried workmates reported her behaviour and Wornin, of Harthill, was sacked from her job at the care home when the incident, which took place on June 17 last year, came to light.

Last week at Livingston Sheriff Court, she pled guilty to mistreating a patient who she was supposed to be looking after.

She had not-guilty pleas to another two charges of mistreating another patient accepted by the Crown.

Wornin’s solicitor, Andy Aitken, said his client had been sacked following the incident but insisted that she had not meant to harm the patient.

Sheriff Martin Edington deferred sentence on Wornin for six months.

The victim’s husband, who asked not to be named, said he was not happy that Wornin was still to be sentenced.

He added: “This has been dragging on for 15 months and we have to wait another six months to find out what will happen to her.

“She’ll probably just end up with a slap on the wrist. What she did was terrible to someone in such a vulnerable position.

“It’s really frustrating for the family.”