Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Coronavirus: Care home nurse fired after calling pandemic a hoax

Nurse who denies there is ‘evidence of a killer virus’ attended anti-lockdown protest in uniform

Daisy Lester
Thursday 01 October 2020 12:38 EDT
Comments
Carley Louise Stewart attended the “Save Our Rights” protest in Trafalgar Square on 29 August where demonstrators gathered to "expose the truth about Covid and lockdown"
Carley Louise Stewart attended the “Save Our Rights” protest in Trafalgar Square on 29 August where demonstrators gathered to "expose the truth about Covid and lockdown" (AFP via Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A care home nurse who claims Covid-19 is a hoax has been fired after attending an anti-lockdown protest.

Carley Louise Stewart, 31, from Preston, took part in August’s “Save Our Rights” demonstration in London brandishing a placard that read “we have empty beds” and “nurse on call. Where’s the pandemic?”

She has said she believes there is “no evidence of a killer virus, let alone a pandemic".

Photos of her wearing her uniform at the protest went viral on social media following the protest in Trafalgar Square on 29 August.

Her employer Ribble View care home in Fishwick, Preston, later asked her to attend a meeting before dismissing her.

She was told her wearing her uniform during the protest was a breach of policy and failing to maintain social distancing at the rally had put both herself and those in her care at risk.

More than 15,000 of the UK’s 42,143 coronavirus deaths are linked to care homes, according to government data.

One week in April saw 3,000 care home deaths involving Covid-19.

Ms Stewart, who describes herself as a “truther and whistleblower”, claimed there were no deaths or illnessses at the care home where she worked between January and August.

She told the Daily Mail: “While there were news reports saying the elderly were dying in droves in care homes, in the home where I was working, no one became ill and no one died.”

She added: “I saw no virus, no deaths, but I could see that lockdown was killing people.”

A spokesperson from Exemplar Healthcare told Care Home Professional: “This individual does not represent the views of, or speak on behalf of, the company and has since been dismissed from the business.

“Due to infection control measures, it has always been against our company policy to wear the Exemplar Health Care uniform in public places, and it is also against company policy to speak publicly on behalf of Exemplar Health Care without prior permission.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in