A nurse employed at a care home for more than ten years has been removed from the nursing register following a misconduct ruling by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Rossitsa Petkova, who worked at Castleford House Nursing Home in Chepstow, Gloucestershire, was found guilty of multiple allegations, including inappropriate comments about a resident’s birthday cake.

According to the NMC panel, Petkova suggested to a kitchen assistant that she and a colleague could eat a dementia patient’s birthday cake, reasoning that the resident would not be aware it was their special day. The panel also found that Petkova had directed residents to “shut up” and had threatened one individual by saying that if they did not eat their dinner, their daughter would be prevented from visiting.

Petkova denies all the allegations brought against her and retains the right to appeal the decision. The Nursing and Midwifery Council based its ruling on eight proven charges of professional misconduct. The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding standards of care and professional behavior within residential care settings.