Scottish psych nurse loses license for sex with patient

August 15, 2013

A disciplinary body found Brendan Campbell, 49, "abused his power as a registered nurse" to develop an inappropriate relationship with the woman who had mental health issues.

After hearing evidence, the Nursing and Midwifery Council decided that striking Mr Campbell from the nursing register was the "only appropriate and proportionate sanction".

It was alleged Mr Campbell developed an "inappropriate sexual relationship with female patient" while she was in the Struan Ward at MacKinnon House, which is part of Stobhill Hospital, in 2007.

Mr Campbell was the nurse in charge of night shifts in the 20-bed mixed low security psychiatric unit at the time.

NMC panel heard evidence that the relationship developed while the patient in the hospital and escalated after she was discharged.

An agent representing Mr Campbell said he maintains his innocence.

But the NMC panel, which published its judgment online, found the majority of allegations proven.

Mr Campbell was found to have given the patient gifts including a Valentine's Card and T-shirt with a rude slogan which the patient told the panel made her feel "embarrassed".

The panel concluded Mr Campbell had touched, put his arms around her and kissed her while she was in her hospital bed.

Allegations Mr Campbell kissed and inappropriately touched the patient and allowed her to touch him in an office at the ward, while patients were asleep, were also found proved.

Mr Campbell was also said to have met the patient outside the hospital on a number of occasions.

During these meetings, which took place in a park and at the patient's home after she had been discharged, they had sex - the panel found.

The panel also found Mr Campbell had given his mobile number to the patient and exchanged text messages which were not clinical in nature.

Allegations the nurse had lay on the patient's bed were found not proven along with allegations he kissed a patient he met while working at Woodilee Hospital.

In a statement, published on the NMC website, the patient is referred to as "Patient A" to protect her identity.

It says Mr Campbell's actions "demonstrated a serious departure from the standards expected of a registered nurse" and adds that feelings of guilt over the relationship had caused "significant deterioration in the health of Patient A."

The NMC judgement reads: "The panel has no doubt that this was a sustained, calculated and manipulative course of action by Mr Campbell's involving an extremely vulnerable and unwell patient."

Source: Linzi Watson, "Male nurse struck off over claims of sex with patient," Glasgow Evening Times, August 12, 2013.