A nurse who was struck off the nursing register after whistleblowing cases of neglect has won her fight to be re-instated. Margaret Haywood exposed low standards of care for elderly patients by secretly filming patients for a Panorama documentary in 2005. The footage, taken at the Royal Sussex Hospital in Brighton, exposed situations that shocked the public including a patient who was left to die alone and another who had to wait hours before being able to go to the toilet.

As a result of Ms Haywood’s actions she was struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) on the grounds she had breached confidentiality. After considerable public support in favour of the nurse the High Court has now overturned the decision and ordered her re-instatement. Despite being given her job back Ms Haywood was not entirely exonerated as she did receive a one year caution. The NMC has stated that it is developing guidance for nursing staff to help them raise concerns about standards of care in the future.