A care home nurse who went into work "intoxicated" attempted to cover up the smell of alcohol on his breath with aftershave. 

Rajesh Malagithi has been handed a 12-month suspension from nursing following the incident at Woodland care home in Hellesdon.

A Nursing and Midwifery Council panel heard that Mr Malagithi arrived for his shift at the home 50 minutes late and smelling of alcohol.

He had then attempted to mask the smell using "a large amount of aftershave".

The fitness to practice committee was told Mr Malagithi was not employed by the home itself, but was due to work a shift there as an agency worker for Roster Healthcare.

He was due to start his shift at 8am, but had initially called the home at 7.25am saying he had fallen down the stairs, was unwell and could not attend.

However, he later phoned again at 8am to say he was on his way, arriving 50 minutes later.

But on his arrival, the night nurse noticed during a handover that Mr Malagithi had a strong smell of alcohol on his breath.

She told the panel Mr Malagithi was "distracted and appeared vacant" during their attempted handover and then "covered himself in a large amount of aftershave".

She then advised him to wait in an office until the manager arrived - but he instead attempted to start handing out medication.

After she then intervened to stop him, Mr Malagithi left and did not work at the home again.

In her witness statement, the night nurse said: "When [Mr Malagithi] spoke I could smell alcohol on his breath and I was concerned that he was intoxicated."

She added: "Mr Malagithi must have realised I could smell alcohol as he took a bottle of aftershave from his bag and covered himself in it."

Mr Malagithi did not provide any statement or evidence to the hearing, which went ahead in his absence. 

After judging his conduct to be "deplorable", the NMC panel agreed to suspend Mr Malagithi from practice for a year.

A spokesman for Maria Mallaband Care Homes, which runs the home, said: "The care staff at the home became very aware of what was happening very quickly and resolved the matter.

"We would like to thank them for their diligence."