An NHS nurse in Croydon who called colleague 'the black one' to be struck off from service for misconduct and racist behaviour, according to a report.
Katrina Mclaughlin, who was a registered nurse with Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, was suspended with the intention of being struck off after the Nursing and Midwifery Council found many examples of misconduct, reported My London.
The report said that she referred to a colleague as 'the Black one' more than once and walked away from her when she tried to speak.
While working at the trust's single point of assessment office in Croydon, Mclaughlin also reportedly said that the colleague 'should learn to speak English'.
In a written statement, the victim alleged that the nurse never called everyone else by their names except the victim.
"Katrina used to call me 'the Black one’, she never called me by my name, only 'the Black one', but she called everyone else by their names," the victim wrote.
"Ever since Katerina started at the trust I could feel that she didn't like me, and I knew it was because of my colour. With everyone else she was OK," the victim said.
"Whenever anyone else tried to talk to her she would be fine, but when I did she wouldn't have it. She wouldn't listen, would get angry, dismiss me or simply walk away. When me and her were working together she would just walk out, I wouldn't see her for hours."
Mclaughlin, however, denied the accusations of racism and said she never muttered that the victim should learn to speak English.
"This is an absolute lie. I find it so offensive and disgusting to read this because I know she is lying and can prove it…Firstly word 'Black' to describe someone of darker skin tone is not a phrase I would use," Mclaughlin was quoted as saying during the hearing by My London.
"I would call a person of different ethnicity by their name. If I did not know their name but knew their ethnicity I would say the French lady or the Nigerian lady for example…However according to the Home Office and that is very close to the Spoa (single point of access) office incidentally, it is politically correct to describe someone as black or white."
Mclaughlin said that she like to call people by their names, adding that she knew the victim's name.
"If it were true that I had called [her] 'the Black one all the time' this would have sounded odd and someone in the office would have commented on it surely and told the manager…"
The nurse faced a list of other claims including aggressive behaviour and and stamping her foot when questioned about the inappropriateness of wearing headphones in the office.
The other allegations considered during the hearing include Mclaughlin not returning to work following her lunch break on January 21, 2019 and on January 31, 2019, arriving at work two hours and 45 minutes late.
Following the hearing, the panel decided to make a striking-off order so she cannot work as a nurse in the UK.
The panel imposed an interim suspension order for 18 months to appeal. If no appeal is made, then the interim suspension order will be replaced by the substantive striking off order 28 days after Mclaughlin is sent the decision in writing.
She resigned from the trust on 26 March 2019.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)