A support worker who left a vulnerable woman on the living room floor after a fall and went on to her next appointment has been struck off the care register.

Margaret Howat’s behavior deemed ‘appalling’ Scottish Nursing watchdog, which nursing staff themselves admit is “disgusting”.

Ms Horvat was criticized for not seeking help for the frail woman, who lost her footing while paramedics were in another room, writing in her notes that she had fallen but was “ok” and ” Settling down in the lounge”.

The incident was captured by a motion-activated camera mounted prominently in the living room.

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said: “You have been a carer for 22 years. You know what to do. A fall is a serious matter.

“You didn’t see (the woman) fall. You didn’t know how hard she fell. You had no way of knowing if she hit her head.”

Ms Horvat tried to encourage and physically help the woman to get up from the floor but was unable to get her back on her feet.

What Ms. Howat didn’t know was that the woman had fallen weeks earlier and fractured her ribs. SSSC said the woman was unable to tell paramedics “what was wrong”.

Ms Horvath then left the woman kneeling or sitting on the floor and went to her next appointment without alerting emergency personnel.

‘This incident is shocking’

The SSSC said the woman was not left in a “comfortable place”, adding: “She was not ‘ok’ or ‘settled in the lounge’ as your note said.”

The watchdog said: “This incident was appalling. You left a weak and vulnerable service user on the floor.

“You don’t know if she was injured in the fall. She didn’t have food and drink near her.

“She was at risk of harm. Not only was she at risk of harm, but she was also insulted by being left somewhere she didn’t want to be.

“You could have easily fixed this.”

The incident happened at lunchtime in December 2022 while Ms Howat was working as a home care assistant for North Ayrshire Council in Irvine.

The next scheduled visit was not until around 4pm but the woman’s daughter arrived an hour after Ms Howat left and found her mum “lying flat on the floor”.

“Her mother was shaking and visibly in pain. Her mother was unable to tell her what had happened,” SSSC said.

The woman’s daughter and neighbors managed to get her settled. The daughter later watched the video and reported the incident.

From that day on, Ms Howat no longer worked in nursing, the SSSC said.

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A hearing was held last month in which Ms Horvath admitted her ability to practice had been impaired as a result of inappropriate behaviour.

Her representatives argued for her care registration to be suspended and conditions imposed, but the SSSC concluded that a deportation order was an “appropriate disposition”.

In the SSSC report released this week, the watchdog said: “In the view of the panel, your conduct was appalling. Your comments were ‘disgusting’. You also described it as a ‘horrible incident’.”

In defence, the SSSC heard Ms Howat was regarded as an “outstanding” nursing assistant by colleagues and had worked in the industry for 22 years without any disciplinary action.

Ms Howat’s health and work-related stress were said to have been a factor in the incident.

But in the end, the watchdog said the woman’s safety was “at risk” and her “dignity was violated” because she was left on the floor.

The SSSC stated: “The Panel recognizes that the decision to remove you from the register will undermine your ability to earn a living in your chosen field, which you have worked in for many years and which you claim to enjoy.

“It may also be taken to indicate that you are of poor character.

“In any case, in the circumstances, the issuance of an eviction order is proportionate to upholding the regulatory objectives.”