A care home nurse accused of neglecting patients by allegedly leaving them unwashed and without water told a professional conducts hearing she has done no wrong.

Lynette Maggs, 61, from Epsom, who worked at £800-a-week Lynde House Nursing Home, in Twickenham, is accused of having left residents “up to their necks” in their own filth, the Nursing and Midwifery Council heard.

It was also alleged the pensioners had faeces caked under their fingernails and were frequently left unwashed and without enough water to drink.

But Mrs Maggs insisted on Friday she had a good rapport with at least half of the patients she is alleged to have mistreated.

She said: “I would never harm a patient. One lady used to call me the daughter she never had.

“I used to speak to her in Italian as that was where she was from and would sometimes bring in Italian food she liked.”

Mrs Maggs said the residents, most of whom have since died, would be “absolutely devastated” to know she was now facing charges.

Mrs Maggs insisted she knew more about what was going on in the home than friends or relatives who only visited once a week.

She said: “They only saw a snapshot of what was happening in the home so what they did see could be taken out of proportion.

“There were 72 residents in the home. People would come to visit residents individually so they wouldn’t know what was going on with the others.

“When you’re looking after that many people you’re going to have situations you can’t predict.

“I believe I had a very good overview of what was going on in the home and so did Sarah (Johnson).”

The nurse, who has now retired, faces a catalogue of charges that she and and former manager Sarah Johnson, 51, neglected patients when they ran the home between 1998 and 2002.

Both Mrs Maggs and Mrs Johnson deny the charges against them.

If found guilty, they could be thrown out of the profession.

The NMC hearing continues and will not conclude until next year.

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