County Down Nurse Struck Off, UK

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 30 Aug 2007 - 2:00 PDT

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A 33 year-old nurse from Newtownards has been struck off the register after sexually harassing colleagues and two students.

A panel of the Nursing and Midwifery conduct and competence committee found Jonathan Gourley, who was employed as an F grade senior nurse and mentor at Ulster Hospital, Dundonald at the time the incidents occurred, guilty of misconduct and removed him from the register.

Gourley was not present during the hearing, held in Belfast on Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd of August. Among the charges, the panel heard evidence in support that he had:

-- Placed his fingers on Student A's pubic area
-- Touched Student A's chest
-- Stroked Student A's bottom
-- Slapped Student B's bottom
-- Asked Student B intimate questions regarding her anatomy in front of a patient
-- Lifted Student B's tunic and place his hand on Student B's upper leg
-- Asked Staff Nurse A intimate questions about her underwear
-- Asked Staff Nurse A intimate questions about her pregnancy

The panel were concerned by the way he selected his victims who were his subordinates and found that his fitness to practise was impaired and that he was guilty of misconduct.

NMC spokesperson, Leila Harris said: "Jonathan Gourley's behaviour was a serious departure from his Code of Conduct. His actions were pre-meditated and he breeched the boundaries of proper professional relationships. The panel balanced the interest of the public against the interest of the registrant and decided that in order to maintain public confidence in the profession, Mr Gourley's name should be removed from the register."

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the UK regulator for two professions, nursing and midwifery. The primary purpose of the NMC is protection of the public. It does this through maintaining a register of all nurses, midwives and specialist community public health nurses eligible to practise within the UK and by setting standards for their education, training and conduct. Currently the number of registrants exceeds 682,000. The Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 (The Order), sets out the NMC's role and responsibilities.

http://www.nmc-uk.org