A NURSE kept a frail dementia patient locked in his room against his will, a tribunal has heard.

The health worker was also found to have blocked the door of his room with a laundry basket and failed to fill in important paperwork.

Elaine Hastings has been suspended by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Bosses from NHS Ayrshire and Arran flagged up concerns about Mrs Hastings to the professional body.

The tribunal heard that on a date in August or September 2016 Mrs Hastings locked the door of the patient's room while he was inside.

The man, who has Lewy Bodies dementia and significant sensory impairment, was a patient at Irvine's Woodland View, an acute mental health facility and community hospital at Ayrshire Central Hospital.

On the night of September 14 Mrs Hastings also held the patient's door closed while her colleague shouting and made hand gestures at him through the door window.

The patient also needed one-to-one attention but Mrs Hastings failed to provide this or ensure that care was provided in any other way.

She also did not fill in a form in relation to incidents that occurred during the night shift or keep an accurate record of the patient's behaviour.

Mrs Hastings was sacked from her post after a disciplinary hearing on December 14, 2016 and referred to the NMC.

In an interview with the nurse she said: “I know I shouldn’t have done what I did and know we were meant to keep him safe but I was scared and frightened.

"I was thinking of myself and keeping myself safe before keeping him safe.”

After hearing from six witnesses, the NMC panel decided to impose a suspension order on the nurse, which will last for 12 months.

This means she will not be able to practice for the next year.