Irvine carer struck off for hitting dementia patient with their wet underwear

An Irvine carer has been banned from the profession for hitting a dementia patient with their own wet underwear and shouting at them.

Margaret Cavin was working as a care assistant in Irvine, providing personal care to residents with dementia, when she physically struck two patients on separate occasions.

The first incident took place in December 2018 while Cavin provided personal care to a resident with dementia. She shouted at the resident, then struck them on the arm with their own wet underwear.

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said her actions caused distress to the patient.

The second incident occurred in June 2024 when Cavin physically hit another resident three times on her arm with a hoist remote.

On multiple other occasions, the SSSC said Cavin used “highly disrespectful language” to describe service users in her care, who live with dementia and are “extremely vulnerable”.

The Ombudsman said Cavin’s behaviour is “wholly unacceptable and fundamentally incompatible” with continued registration with the SSSC.

“Your actions showed a complete disregard for upholding the dignity of those in your care,” the watchdog told Cavin.

“You inflicted physical harm and shouted at individuals in your care, demonstrating a serious and repeated breach of professional standards.

“Your conduct over a six-year period reflects an extremely concerning pattern of behaviour. These incidents occurred across two separate employments, and on multiple occasions, which further demonstrates that this was not an isolated incident but rather is indicative of broader attitudinal issues.”

The SSSC said the risk posed by Cavin’s continued employment in the care sector is “direct and immediate” to service users.