A nurse is due to appear before a disciplinary panel after he was accused of holding a pillow over a resident’s face for 30 seconds.

Vincent Mukasa wasworking as a staff nurse at Tall Trees Nursing Home, in Mile End Road, Colchester, when the incident is alleged to have happened.

Mr Mukasa was working on the night shift on February 9 and 10 2013 when an incident of misconduct is alleged to have occurred.

He was attempting to provide care to a resident with continence problems.

It was claimed he pulled the resident’s arm behind his head, placing a pillow over his face and holding it there for about 30 seconds.

It is also alleged the nurse used physical restraint on the resident to administer care, which is contrary to the man’s care plan.

Mr Mukassa is further accused of failing to record the restraint in the resident’s notes.

He will appear before a Nursing and Midwifery Council disciplinary panel in London on Monday, November 10.

The hearing is scheduled to last three days.

Tall Trees provides residential and nursing care for elderly people, including those living with dementia.

Bernard Mawoyo, regional director for home operator Care UK, said: “Tall Trees is a muchloved home that has won a national award for the quality of its dementia care last year.

“Care UK takes a zero-tolerance policy towards any instances of poor care.

“When this matter was drawn to our attention, we immediately reported it to the police, carried out a comprehensive internal investigation and dismissed the employee concerned.

“We also reported the matter to the Nursing and Midwifery Council.”

Attempts by the Gazette to contact Mr Mukasa were unsuccessful.