A PSYCHIATRIC nurse who failed to warn police that a patient claimed to be "making napalm" has been banned from the profession.

Stephen Robert Cook had also recommended another patient for possible discharge two days before they committed suicide

Mr Cook was the care coordinator for the two patients, who lived in the community, while working as a community psychiatric nurse for Mill View hospital in Nevill Avenue, Hove, in 2012.

A Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) hearing was told that on September 19 he said to colleagues that the GP of patient A had phoned with concerns about the patient.

Staff meeting notes revealed the patient was "thinking of making bombs and especially targeting the DWP" and had told Mr Cook he "hates the police and was making napalm".

Despite being asked to do so, Mr Cook did not tell police until a week later.

He said he had known the patient for two years and did not think he would actually carry out the threats.

Mr Cook had also gone to see the patient in August but left after seeing he "had a knife by his side which he withdrew from his sheath and sharpened".

However, the panel found he did not warn Affinity Sutton, the patient's housing provider, that he should not be seen at his home address.

Mr Cook said he had left messages.

The panel also found that Mr Cook did not update the hospital's risk register about patient A. The said he had a "duty" to do so and managing risk should have "superseded any therapeutic relationship".

Mr Cook said his update was a "work in progress" and he was suspended before he could finish it.

The nurse was suspended on September 27, 2012. While handing over his cases, he said that patient B needed a "non-urgent medical review and possible discharge", the hearing was told.

The patient committed suicide two days later.

He said a colleague had confused "discharge" with "transfer" in her notes.

An investigation found "significant gaps in the care and capabilities" of Mr Cook towards patient B.

The NMC, which met in May and June, published its decision this week.

The panel found against him with regards 10 charges and Mr Cook was struck off the nursing register.

He had admitted one charge, of failing to mark patient A as red on the team zoning board.

He has until the end of this week to appeal.