Dietician Removed from Register After Falsifying NHS Job Application
A dietician who secured a senior NHS position by exaggerating her qualifications and experience has been struck off the professional register, following revelations that she lacked basic anatomical knowledge and could have endangered patients. Ifenyinwa Chizube Ndulue-Nonso was hired as a Band 6 Rotational Dietician at Manchester Royal Infirmary in early 2024, but her employment was swiftly terminated after colleagues uncovered alarming deficiencies in her expertise.
Discovery of Critical Knowledge Gaps
Within days of starting her role on February 19, 2024, after relocating from Nigeria, colleagues identified significant inconsistencies in her application claims. Her line manager, Curtis Roberts, returning from annual leave on February 28, immediately noted discrepancies between her described previous experience and her actual capabilities. Fellow dietician Lorna Haywood had already initiated a supervision log due to concerns about her fundamental lack of knowledge.
During her initial days, Mrs Ndulue-Nonso demonstrated an inability to answer basic dietetic questions, struggled with calculating Body Mass Index (BMI), and displayed only a rudimentary understanding of human anatomy. She incorrectly identified the large intestine as following the stomach in the digestive process, rather than the small intestine. Furthermore, she could not recognize a nasogastric feeding tube, confusing it with a breathing apparatus, and provided erroneous information about medical treatments, suggesting radiotherapy was used for heart failure.
Investigation and Disciplinary Proceedings
The Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust launched a rapid investigation, suspending Mrs Ndulue-Nonso within weeks of her appointment. A subsequent disciplinary hearing found her guilty of gross misconduct, resulting in her dismissal. The Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service (HCPTS) later determined that she had deliberately falsified her application and interview responses, misrepresenting her qualifications to secure employment and residency rights in the UK.
In her job application, Mrs Ndulue-Nonso claimed extensive experience managing conditions such as diabetes, eating disorders, cancer, and gastrointestinal diseases, as well as working with patients with burns and requiring parenteral nutrition. However, during probationary assessments, she admitted to having no experience in several critical areas, including artificial feeding and collaboration with pharmacists or medical laboratory scientists.
Patient Safety Concerns and Lack of Remorse
The tribunal panel emphasized that Mrs Ndulue-Nonso's dishonesty was premeditated and placed patients at significant risk. They noted that the only reason no harm occurred was due to vigilant supervision that prevented her from having direct patient contact. When confronted, she attempted to minimize her actions, attributing the exaggerations to cultural differences and admitting only to overstating her experience "a bit."
The panel found she showed almost no genuine remorse for her deception. Consequently, she was struck off the register, prohibiting her from practicing as a dietician anywhere in the UK. A spokesperson for the Trust confirmed that recruitment processes have since been strengthened to prevent similar incidents, and any future cases of falsified information will be reported to the Health and Care Professions Council.
