Burstow backs whistle-blowing nurse

3.15.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 21st Apr 2009

Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam, has tabled a parliamentary motion in support of Margaret Haywood, the nurse struck off for secretly filming abuse of elderly patients for a documentary.

Mr Burstow, a long-time champion of the rights of elderly people, has offered his support to Ms Haywood who agreed to film inside the Royal Sussex Hospital to highlight the dreadful conditions and received consent from the patients after they had been filmed.

As well as tabling the motion, Mr Burstow has also joined over 7000 signatories of the Royal College of Nursing's online petition calling for her reinstatement.

Commenting Mr Burstow said:

'Before agreeing to the filming Ms Haywood had already reported awful conditions on an older people's ward and seen nothing done, therefore it is to her credit that she did everything in her power to expose the cruel, neglect she saw patients suffering.

'If the decision of the Nursing and Midwifery Council stands, then their profession has lost a dedicated and caring nurse whose crime was to expose others that were guilty of not doing their job.'