A MATRON who twice slapped a vulnerable pensioner across the face at a nursing home in Ainsworth has been thrown out of the profession.

Apalsamy Uppiah (66) screamed a tirade of abuse at the cowering mental health patient before launching the attack at Ainsworth Nursing Home in Knowsley Road, Ainsworth, in February last year.

Unbeknown to registered nurse Uppiah, who was acting matron, the assault was witnessed by a Primary Care Trust inspector who happened to be visiting the home.

Uppiah claimed he was simply "patting" 65-year-old resident Mary Birchall. But he was jailed for three months after being convicted of common assault following a trial at Bury magistrates court in September, 2005.

In March 2000, he had been given a six-month conditional discharge after being convicted of common assault at a magistrates court. Uppiah had attacked a woman at work but she was not a patient or resident, the Nursing Midwifery Council heard.

Rosemary Rollason told how Uppiah struck the patient at Ainsworth Nursing Home. "The victim was aged and vulnerable with mental health problems, while he was in a position of authority and the incident took place in a nursing home where he worked.

It was clearly a serious abuse of his professional position as well as the trust and faith placed in him as a registered nurse. There were two slaps and inappropriate language was used."

Detective Constable Anthony Hough, of Greater Manchester Police, headed the investigation into the assault. He said: "The matter had been brought to the attention of social services by Jill Taylor from Bury Primary Care Trust, who was the key witness. She heard a male's raised voice then saw Uppiah slap the patient across the face."

When quizzed by detectives Uppiah denied slapping the woman, claiming he patted her on the shoulder to reward her for good behaviour, lies he maintained in court.

A conduct and competence committee found Uppiah's fitness to practise was impaired and struck him off the register.

Chairman William Buxton said: "By assaulting a vulnerable patient he abused his position of trust and brought the nursing profession into disrepute.

"He was convicted of a serious offence of assault but continued to deny the offence, therefore showing no insight or remorse into his actions. He caused significant harm to a patient in his care.

"He had worked for about 40 years as a nurse and there was no evidence of other assaults on patients. However, he was convicted of an earlier assault in 2000, although it did not involve a patient."

Mr Buxton added: "Any assault on a patient is a serious departure expected of a nurse. We have heard nothing from the registrant to assure us he is not a future risk to patients so we believe it is necessary to remove his name from the register to protect the public and maintain public confidence in the nursing profession."

Uppiah who had been employed at Ainsworth Nursing Home from May 1996 to February last year did not attend last Friday's hearing in central London.