Rebecca Louise Burwood, a former deputy manager at a care home in Wales, has been struck off after a tribunal found serious misconduct involving a 99-year-old resident. (Photo: Google Maps)
A nurse in the UK has been struck off the nursing register after a tribunal found that she abused her position of trust to take hundreds of thousands of pounds from a vulnerable 99-year-old woman, with some of the money allegedly spent on personal expenses, including cosmetic surgery, a car and a motorhome. Evidence presented at the hearing showed that more than £370,000 was withdrawn from Resident A’s bank account over five years. The woman also transferred ownership of her house, valued at approximately £400,000, to Burwood. As reported by the BBC, the hearing was told that Burwood persuaded Resident A to spend more than £20,000 on a car and £9,000 on a motorhome.
Burwood claimed the motorhome was purchased so that the two could go on day trips together. Because she wanted to make regular charitable donations of between £250 and £500 a week, defending the transactions, Burwood said Resident A had asked her to withdraw money.
Rebecca Louise Burwood, who was deputy manager at Bryn Yr Haul Care Home in Mold, Wales, had a longstanding relationship with the woman, identified during the proceedings as Resident A, according to a report by the BBC. Bank staff reportedly said Burwood was “almost blackmailing” the elderly woman and pressuring her to request that access to the account be restored. Speaking to the BBC, James Bradford, operations director at Bryn Yr Haul Care Home, said the organisation supported the regulator’s decision. “We fully support the NMC’s decision and, since these events, there have been changes in management, and our safeguarding policies and procedures have been reviewed to ensure the continued safety and wellbeing of everyone in our care,” he said.
The elderly woman had no family members and relied on Burwood for companionship after suffering a fall, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) tribunal heard. The tribunal heard that Burwood became Resident A’s lasting power of attorney, a legal arrangement that allows an appointed person to help make decisions on someone’s behalf. However, she continued to oversee the woman’s care without disclosing this position to her employer. The panel found that Burwood abused her position of trust and power. allegations were also presented that funds went towards Burwood’s personal cosmetic surgery While some of the money was reportedly used for home improvements and bill payments. Her lawyer, Victoria Rees, also argued that the woman had expressed a wish not to leave any money behind when she died. However, the woman’s bank raised concerns about the spending and froze her account. Burwood subsequently took Resident A to the branch to have the restriction lifted. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.
Safeguarding concerns led to investigation
The bank reported the incident to North Wales Police in 2023. Flintshire County Council referred the case to the NMC in June 2023. Because resident A did not want to pursue the matter, however, no further action was taken at the time.
Other nurses also reported hearing conversations in which Burwood allegedly instructed the woman to “sign here” and said she would “give her the money back”. The NMC tribunal concluded that Burwood had “engaged in a sustained, calculated course of conduct” and that her actions amounted to “serious misconduct”. Safeguarding staff later heard that Resident A was shocked by how much of her money had been spent. Burwood responded that she had asked Resident A to sign a condolence card. Resident A has since died. Following the findings, Burwood was struck off the nursing register, meaning she can no longer legally practise as a nurse in the UK.