Mental Health Nurse Struck Off for Inappropriate Conduct at Work
Mental health nurse sent naked bubble bath photo and engaged in oral sex in office
Image: Dailystar Co Uk
Christopher Higgins, a former mental health nurse at Craigavon Area Hospital, was removed from the Nursing and Midwifery Council register after sending a naked bubble bath photo and engaging in oral sex in the office. The incidents occurred between 2016 and 2023, with six out of eleven charges upheld during the hearing.
- 01Christopher Higgins sent a naked photo of himself in a bubble bath to a colleague, which he claimed to have no memory of due to alcohol influence.
- 02He engaged in oral sex with a colleague in his office, with the colleague describing the act as unwanted and inappropriate.
- 03The Nursing and Midwifery Council upheld six of the eleven charges against Higgins during the hearing.
- 04The panel concluded that Higgins' actions significantly deviated from the expected standards for registered nurses.
- 05A spokesperson for the Southern Trust stated that there was no evidence of direct patient safety impact but emphasized the commitment to professional conduct.
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Christopher Higgins, a former band 6 mental health nurse at Craigavon Area Hospital, has been struck off the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register following a Fitness to Practice hearing. The hearing addressed multiple allegations against Higgins, including sending a naked photo of himself in a bubble bath to a colleague and engaging in oral sex in his office. The incidents occurred between mid-2016 and March 2023, with Higgins failing to attend the hearing. Out of eleven charges, six were upheld, including inappropriate sexual innuendos towards staff members. While Higgins claimed to have no memory of the bubble bath incident due to alcohol, he later admitted to the office incident but denied any non-consensual actions. The panel deemed his behavior incompatible with the standards expected of a registered nurse, stating that allowing him to continue practicing would undermine public confidence in the profession. The Southern Trust confirmed its commitment to investigating allegations against staff and maintaining high professional standards.
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The case highlights serious breaches of professional conduct within the healthcare sector, affecting trust in nursing professionals.
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