THE sons of a Pontypool pensioner who died following the actions of a Gwent nurse say they are disappointed to hear she will be able to resume work in a year’s time.

Paul and Hywel Thomas lost their mother Margaret Thomas, 85, on June 2, 2007, after she was injected with ten times the insulin she needed by nurse Joanne Evans, who used a standard syringe instead of a specialist one and made an error converting the measurements.

Now the brothers are asking what it will take for a medical person to be struck off following the decision made at a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) hearing this week.

The Argus reported on Thursday how the panel found that Ms Evans’ actions amounted to misconduct which impairs her fitness to practice.

But she was only suspended for one year due to the panel deciding the event was "an isolated incident" and saying they had taken into account her remorse and previous exemplary character as well as other extenuating circumstances including staff shortages and a patient behaving in an inappropriate way.

Speaking yesterday, Paul, 48, of Cwmbran said: "For the NMC to give such a lenient decision, it makes you think what needs to be done for someone to get struck off.

"This was a catastrophic mistake but this is a very lenient decision and reading the evidence of nurse Joanne Evans, the blame seems to be applied to everyone and everything rather than the mistake she made."

Paul said since the inquest, the family have not been kept informed of the proceedings, only being made aware of what is happening through the media.

He added: "We do feel very let down but hopefully we can now draw a line under all this and carry on with our lives."