A MALDON nurse has been suspended for a year after she failed to declare a conviction for drink driving and possession of a knife.

Amanda Black, 40, was convicted of drink driving at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on March 11 2015.

She was disqualified from driving for two years and received a community order.

On July 22 2015 she was convicted of possessing a knife in Fitch’s Crescent, Maldon, at Chelmsford Magistrates Court, and was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Miss Black was due to appear in front of a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) last week for failing to declare these convictions to her employer.

At the time of the convictions she worked for BUPA at Hatfield Peverel Lodge Care Home, on Crabb’s Hill, Hatfield Peverel.

She did not attend the hearing in person but admitted the charges.

After hearing the evidence over a two day hearing, the NMC have given Miss Black a suspension order for 12 months and Interim suspension order for 18 months.

The panel decided that although the charges were serious, Miss Black’s clinical skills at the time were not in question.

They therefore decided that although a striking off order would be justified, a suspension order would suffice.

In summarising their decision, the NMC said: “In light of all of those factors the panel concluded that a period of suspension of 12 months will offer adequate protection to the public while giving Miss Black the opportunity to continue with her rehabilitation.

“The panel has considered very carefully whether the public interest in this case requires Miss Black to be struck off the register at this time and has concluded that although the matters found against her are serious, given her efforts to date to rectify the position, public confidence can be maintained with the imposition of the proposed suspension order.”