Care worker sacked after feeding patient dog biscuit

A care worker at an old people's home has been sacked for feeding a patient a dog biscuit, it emerged today.

The incident happened at the Bupa-run Kirknowe home in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire in September last year.

The male patient, who is in his 80s and has dementia, was given the biscuit by a worker during a therapy session involving a dog, the healthcare organisation said.

Bupa care services director Kenny Valentine said: "This was a very unfortunate but isolated incident that took place last year during a therapy session involving a dog. We immediately launched an investigation and the member of staff was dismissed.

"We apologised to residents and their relatives at the time."

An insider at the home told the Daily Record newspaper: "One of the residents kept dog biscuits for anyone visiting with a dog, so she had a few with her that she was wanting to give the visiting dogs as a treat.

"The member of staff in question then gave a resident a biscuit which quite a few staff didn't find amusing.

"She said to the resident: Here's a dog biscuit.

"But he took it and ate it. The man wouldn't have known what he was eating as his dementia is very severe. It's a disgusting thing to do."

Most dog biscuits are hard and dry with manufacturers claiming the texture helps clean dogs' teeth. They are not designed for human consumption.

PA