Nurse at the centre of sexual assault inquiry dismissed
A COMMUNITY nurse has been dismissed by a Yorkshire health trust after a patient made an allegation of sexual assault.
The mental health nurse, who was employed by Leeds and Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, has been under police investigation for the past three months. The inquiry was launched after a complaint made by a male patient on January 31, which led to the nurse’s arrest.
The trust had initially suspended the nurse while the matter was made the subject of an internal inquiry.
Anthony Deery, the trust’s director of nursing, confirmed at the time that his organisation was liaising with West Yorkshire Police over allegations made by a patient against a member of staff, adding: “We take this matter very seriously.”
It is understood the staff member has been dismissed from their role.
A spokeswoman confirmed the nurse had also been referred to the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC), but would not comment further as a criminal inquiry is ongoing.
The NMC, which has the power to strike a nurse off the national register, has issued an interim suspension order while it conducts its own investigation.
A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police confirmed that the nurse remained on bail while inquiries continue.