A mental health nurse has been struck off after a tribunal found he had "breached sexual and professional boundaries" with two patients, including by carrying on a five-year affair with one patient and encouraging another to use a vibrator to help her sleep.
Henry Munro, sometimes known as Harry, was an NHS specialist community mental health nurse, though he has since retired. The allegations relate to patients he saw in 2016.
Allegations that, at a March 2016 appointment, Mr Munro told the first patient - Patient A - that she was attractive and desirable, cuddled her, stroked the back of her neck and kissed her head were found proven. The Nursing and Midwifery Council tribunal also found it proven that he had advised her to use a vibrator to help her get to sleep at night, while he was a registered at Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust as a Band 6 Liaison Nurse.
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A second set of charges related to Patient B. It was found proved that "between about the end of October 2016 and about the end of August 2021 [Mr Munro was] in a relationship with Patient B which was in breach of professional boundaries and sexual in nature".
At the time of the conduct in question with patient B, Munro was employed by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust.
Presenting the case to a hearing that ran from February 27 to March 10 this year, the NMC's Raj Joshi made the case that Mr Munro "deliberately chose to take an unreasonable risk to the safety of patients under his care" and said the ex-nurse "took advantage of two individuals and he abused their trust". He was also found to have improperly accessed medical records relating to dead patients.
Neither Mr Munro nor Patients A and B took part in the hearing, though both patients had provided witness statements previously. However, Patient B did, in correspondence with the NMC, criticise the process. She said: "He hasn't even got representation. Not accountable. Not interested. Doesn't affect him as retired. Only affects me.
"You guys are so awfully impaired and quite awful. Please don't contact me again. The NMC do not care or understand victims."
The tribunal heard evidence from witnesses including from NHS staff who investigated complaints against Mr Munro and a police detective who did the same. It was heard how Patient A had told a HR manager at the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust how "he said ‘in your relationship, did you enjoy sex?'"
The patient was also, according to the statements given to investigators asked "who takes the lead role" in sex, and that at a second appointment, when the patient became upset, Mr Munro gave her a cuddle that was "too intense". The second appointment also saw, the tribunal found, Mr Munro raise the question as to whether the patient had considered using a vibrator to help her sleep.
In relation to Patient B, it was heard that Mr Munro had assessed her as a patient at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, before meeting her in the Marks and Spencer café at the Metrocentre following her discharge from his service. According to Patient B's statement, they then had an extra-marital relationship.
The tribunal panel found that Mr Munro's actions "did fall significantly short of the standards expected of a registered nurse" and that this amounted to misconduct. They said the facts proved "were extremely serious" and that members of the public would find his behaviour "deplorable".
In its findings, the tribunal panel added: "The panel concluded that Mr Munro had formed a long-standing sexual relationship with Patient B, and, by his actions, sought to have a sexual relationship with Patient A. It found that he prioritised his own interests and personal gratification over the interests of his patients."
In a statement provided by his former trade union representatives at the Royal College of Nursing - which did not represent Mr Munro - the NMC tribunal was told: "Mr Munro has indicated that he is now retired and has not practised as a nurse for almost six years. He instructs that he does not intend to return to nursing and will not be engaging with the NMC FTP Hearing."
The tribunal found it had no alternative other than to strike off Mr Munro from the nursing register, pending his opportunity to appeal.
A spokeswoman at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We fully investigated the claims in 2016 and can confirm that Mr Munro hasn’t worked for our Trust since April 2016."
A spokeswoman at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust said: "As soon as the allegation came to light we immediately suspended Mr Munro and following an investigation he was dismissed in 2018. We have fully co-operated with all agencies, including referral to the NMC."
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