A nurse in Dorset informed a patient that their cancer was caused by receiving Covid vaccinations and handed them an anti-vaccination leaflet. The nurse, Penny Ann Senner, who worked at Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust as an adult nurse, has been removed from her position following a misconduct panel by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
The panel found four of the six charges against the nurse to be substantiated, including the incident where she provided the patient with a leaflet containing a link to an anti-vaccination website. The patient, known as Patient A, shared that during a routine appointment in August 2023, Senner raised the issue of Covid vaccines in a subtle manner. Patient A stated that after disclosing she had received the vaccines and boosters, Senner asserted that the vaccinations were the cause of her cancer.
Patient A emphasized that Senner’s remarks were definitive rather than suggestive, leaving no room for interpretation. Despite being asked if her perception of the nurse would change if Covid jabs were linked to cancer risk, Patient A maintained her stance, stating she was vulnerable and did not need such information during her chemotherapy treatments.
Following the incident, Patient A received a leaflet from Senner, believing it to be informative. However, upon further inspection of the associated website, Patient A discovered it was an anti-vaccination platform, causing distress. The patient then expressed concerns about her children receiving Covid vaccinations.
Senner expressed regret for causing distress to Patient A, noting it was not her intention. The panel also disclosed that Senner inappropriately accessed multiple patients’ records without authorization, citing it as “research”. While Senner’s actions were not intended to harm Patient A, the panel concluded that her conduct had lasting emotional repercussions for the patient.
Ultimately, the panel decided to remove Senner from the nursing registry with an interim suspension of 18 months for her actions, stating that her behavior undermined public confidence in health advice.
