A SENIOR nurse at a Malvern nursing home discussed patients' sexual habits and poured orange drink over a television, a disciplinary hearing heard.

Marion Birch Wilks told a care assistant the television sabotage was in the interest of patients at Court House Nursing Home because Social Services would provide a new one.

The 51-year-old was formally cautioned by the Nursing and Midwifery Council's professional conduct committee after a disciplinary hearing in London, yesterday, when she was found guilty of six charges of misconduct.

The charges related to incidents between January, 2000, and January, 2001, while she was working in the Hollybush unit at the nursing home.

Mrs Wilks admitted misconduct by exaggerating and fabricating the personal and accident records of several patients.

She admitted pouring juice down the back of a TV and blaming a patient; leaving another patient with an acquired brain injury in a hoist for up to 90 minutes, and discussing the sexual activities of two patients.

At the time, she was looking after her mother-in-law who needed constant care and her stressful situation made her act foolishly, she said.

"My husband wasn't very supportive and I had to maintain work and her responsibility on my own."

Committee chairman June Smail said Mrs Wilks had failed to respect the uniqueness and dignity of a patient, deliberately damaged property and failed to act in the interests and well-being of a patient.

But she was not being struck off, because she had been suffering a huge amount of stress.

She had also admitted the charges and assured the committee she would not act in this manner again, said Miss Smail.

Mrs Wilks had a previously unblemished record during her nursing career.

The caution will be recorded against Marion Wilks for five years and employers will be made aware of it when checking her registration status.