A nurse in Dorset informed a patient that their cancer was caused by Covid vaccinations and handed them an anti-vaccination leaflet. Penny Ann Senner, an adult nurse at Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust, has been removed from her position due to these actions following a misconduct panel by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
The panel found four out of six charges to be valid, including the nurse giving the patient a leaflet containing a link to an anti-vaccination website. The patient, referred to as Patient A, reported that during a routine appointment in August 2023, Senner brought up the topic of Covid vaccinations in a subtle manner.
Patient A stated that Senner claimed that the vaccines caused their cancer, presenting it as a definite fact rather than a suggestion. The patient felt distressed by the encounter, especially as they were undergoing chemotherapy at the time. The leaflet given by Senner turned out to be from an anti-vaccination website, causing further distress to the patient.
Senner expressed regret over causing upset to Patient A, stating that it was not her intention. Additionally, the panel discovered that Senner had accessed numerous patients’ records without authorization or a valid clinical reason, citing “research” as the purpose.
The panel’s ruling highlighted that Senner’s actions caused lasting emotional harm to the patient and undermined public confidence in healthcare advice. As a result, Senner has been removed from the nursing register, with an interim suspension order of 18 months to allow for a possible appeal.