Nurse struck off for sexual and racist comments

Paul Bryan Vogler was a registered nurse at HMP Huntercombe

A nurse who made sexual and racist comments while working in prisons has been struck off.

Paul Bryan Vogler was a registered nurse at HMP Huntercombe, HMP Pentonville, and HMP Wormwood Scrubs.

He would often ask patients about their crimes, make sexual remarks towards colleagues, and make far right political comments, a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) panel heard.

It concluded that his actions amounted to misconduct and that his fitness to practise was impaired.

The committee heard that Mr Vogler:

• was "aggressive" to black members of staff, making "derisive" comments about them

• made explicit sexual comments about colleagues

• posted racist remarks and other slurs on social media, including several about his colleagues

In its findings the NMC said Mr Vogler "breached the patients' right to confidentiality and exposed them to unwarranted distress".

It said the sexual comments would "shock a member of public" and were "liable to bring the profession into disrepute".

"Mr Vogler has breached the fundamental tenets of the nursing profession of prioritising people, practising safely, and promoting professionalism and trust in the nursing profession," it said.

The committee heard that a case form from Mr Vogler's representative at the Royal College of Nursing stated he made full admissions to all charges.

The panel described him as a "clinically competent nurse", but that his "deep-seated, racist views" were "fundamentally incompatible with remaining on the register".

It imposed an interim suspension order for 18 months to cover any appeal period "for the protection of the public".

Mr Vogler was previously suspended after several disciplinary investigations and resigned in 2020.