A health authority has fired a St. John's nursing home employee who is the subject of a police investigation.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is investigating a complaint that the employee, a licensed practical nurse, sexually assaulted a resident of the Hoyles-Escasoni complex.

The RNC is also investigating a complaint that the licensed practical nurse assaulted a nurse at the St. John's complex.

Alice Kennedy, the chief operating officer of Eastern Health, said the authority took quick action when it learned there might be a problem.

"We did our own internal investigation and we determined, based on that we had sufficient evidence to proceed, to terminate the employee," Kennedy said.

The female employee had initially been suspended with pay.

Kennedy described the incident — which involved an elderly woman who is incapacitated and unable to speak — as an isolated one.

The woman's family brought the issue to the police.