Lancashire mental health nurse struck off after sexual relationship with vulnerable patient
It has taken 11 years for the case to come before the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
A mental health nurse who began a sexual relationship with a vulnerable patient has been struck off.
A Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) hearing this month found that Natalie Croarkin, who worked for Lancaster and Southern Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust - a forerunner of the current Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, was guilty of misconduct.
The hearing found it proved that in or around 2015, Ms Croarkin:
- Entered into a romantic and/or sexual relationship with Patient A, who was decribed as “a vulnerable service user”
- Arranged to meet Patient A in a social setting following Patient A’s discharge
- Stayed over at Patient A’s house
- Told Patient A that she was developing inappropriate feelings for her
The relationship came to light when a different patient revealed it.
In relation to a Trust investigation in 2022, it was also proved that Ms Croarkin lied about how she met Patient A and the extent of their relationship, initially denied to having been at Patient A’s house, provided contradicting account of events, and denied having had contact with Patient A after 2015 but later admitted to clinical contact.
The hearing proved that Ms Croarkin was dishonest, had intended to conceal her relationship with Patient A, and in 2015 and 2016, accessed Patient A’s medical records without a clinical reason to do so.
The NMC panel heard evidence from Patient A’ that Ms Croarkin’s conduct had caused her significant harm in that it had taken her several years to trust another healthcare professional, despite her own awareness of her difficulties.
It also determined that while there is some insight into why the relationship with Patient A was inappropriate, “it is limited and largely recent.”
A report said: “It (the panel) was satisfied that the combination of Ms Croarkin’s conduct, her dishonesty together with the nature and extent of her relationship with Patient A demonstrated actions which fell seriously short of the conduct and standards expected of a registered nurse and amounted to misconduct.”
It addeed: “The panel considered that Ms Croarkin’s conduct breached the fundamental tenets of the nursing profession and also brought its reputation into disrepute. It was satisfied that confidence in the nursing profession would be undermined if its regulator did not find charges relating to her conduct extremely serious.”
Sanction
The panel has considered this case and has decided to make a striking-off order. A report states: “Balancing all the circumstances of Ms Croarkin’s case, the panel determined that a striking-off order is the only sanction capable of adequately protecting the public, maintaining public confidence in the nursing profession and upholding proper professional standards. The panel concluded that nothing short of a striking-off order would be sufficient in this case.”
Ms Croarkin has 28 days from September 23 to appeal the decision.