Southmead worker struck off over sexual misconduct

The incidents in question all allegedly occurred at Southmead Hospital in 2020

A man has been struck from the health professionals' register, after a tribunal ruled sexual misconduct allegations made by two female colleagues at Southmead Hospital, were proven.

The Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service (HCPTS) ruled Lee Turner, who worked as an operating department practitioner at the hospital via an agency, had touched one woman inappropriately and made sexual comments about her and another colleague several times in 2020.

It ruled the findings, which Mr Turner denied, amounted to misconduct which colleagues would consider "deplorable".

North Bristol NHS Trust which runs Southmead Hospital said "the actions of Mr Turner are utterly unacceptable".

'Unfit to practice'

The most serious of the allegations against Mr Turner was that on 21 December 2020, whilst preparing an operating theatre for an emergency case, he grabbed a female colleague (referred to as Colleague A) by the back of the neck, pinned her face down on the operating table and touched her sexually.

This incident, the tribunal's report said, was reported to the police but no charges were brought.

It was further alleged that on other occasions he touched Colleague A in a similarly sexual manner and made a sexual comment about her appearance.

Sometime between March and September 2020 he made a sexual comment about another colleague, referred to as Colleague B.

In a written ruling published online, the HCPTS said despite Mr Turner's denials, it was satisfied the allegations were true.

"It [the tribunal] accepted that the events had occurred as described by Colleague A," the ruling reads.

"It follows from this that the Panel rejected the evidence of [Mr Turner] where it conflicted with it.

The tribunal also accepted the allegations made by Colleague B were true, concluding that the only appropriate action was to declare Mr Turner unfit to practice and strike him from the register.

This was in part, the tribunal said, because of his consistent denial of the events and the risk in its view, of him acting inappropriately again in the future.

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said they did receive an allegation of sexual assault at Southmead Hospital, related to 21 December 2020.

"The incident was investigated but there was insufficient evidence to proceed and no proportionate further lines of enquiry," they said.

"No arrests were made."

'Decisive action'

Bristol NHS Group Chief Nursing and Improvement Officer, Professor Steve Hams, said: "The actions of Mr Turner are utterly unacceptable."

"They violate the standards we uphold as an organisation and as part of the NHS, and we will not tolerate behaviour that compromises the safety or dignity of our people.

"When these concerns were first raised in 2020, we acted immediately. Mr Turner was suspended from duty, the agency employing him was notified, and a formal referral was made to the Health and Care Professions Council. A full investigation followed.

"I want to recognise the colleagues who came forward, their courage and integrity enabled decisive action to be taken, and they have strengthened our resolve to ensure that safety and accountability remain non-negotiable across our organisation."