Professor Stephen Hawking’s former nurse has been struck off the nursing register over multiple misconduct charges in relation to the care she was providing him.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council found Patricia Dowdy “failed to provide the standards of good, professional care that we expect and Professor Hawking deserved”.
Dowdy had faced multiple misconduct charges including, financial misconduct, dishonesty, not providing appropriate care and failing to cooperate with the NMC and not having the correct qualifications.
Matthew McClelland, director of Fitness to Practise at the NMC, said: “The panel has found Mrs Dowdy failed to provide the standards of good, professional care that we expect and Professor Hawking deserved.
“As a result, Mrs Dowdy will no longer be able to practice as a nurse.
“As the public rightly expects, in serious cases such as this – where a nurse has failed in their duty of care and has not been able to evidence to the panel that they have learned from their mistakes and be fit to practise – we will take action.”
Prof Hawking died last year aged 76 having become one of the most renowned scientists in his field, despite his long battle with motor neurone disease.
A spokesman for the Hawking family said in a statement issued by the NMC: “They had complete confidence in the NMC, and their thorough investigation, and trusted they would come to an independent conclusion based on the facts in the case.”