Nurse gifted 'penis-shaped' keyring to patient

A Suffolk nurse who had an “inappropriate” sexual relationship with a “vulnerable” patient and gifted him a penis-shaped keyring has avoided being struck off.

Alesia Miller engaged in a relationship and exchanged gifts with a patient receiving post-operative wound care at The Guildhall and Barrow Surgery, in Bury St Edmunds.

The nurse claimed the pair did not begin a romantic relationship, however, until the patient was no longer under the care of the GP practice.

After a Nursing and Midwifery Council misconduct hearing she was given a warning, meaning future employers will be told her fitness to practise was deemed to be impaired.

The panel heard how the male patient, based at RAF Lakenheath, visited the surgery for dressing changes twice a week, every week from March 2021.

After several months of appointments, the pair started to grow closer and exchange gifts before they eventually started a relationship in November.

During this time Miss Miller accepted flowers, £150 worth of massage vouchers, an e-cigarette and a tote bag and visited the patient at RAF Lakenheath with her daughter.

She also divulged intimate details – including some of a sexual nature – about the patient with a colleague, which was considered a breach of patient confidentiality.

Then, at the patient’s last clinical appointment, they arranged to go on a date before he sent a bouquet of flowers to her home and she gave him a penis-shaped keyring.

Before being dismissed by the surgery, the nurse told a colleague she and the patient had held “an adult sleepover” and they had done “everything apart from full sex”.

Miss Miller said she felt “ashamed” by her actions and that the short relationship she had with the patient was “wrong in so many ways”.

She also said “this experience has been a sobering reminder of the importance of maintaining clear professional boundaries”.

She maintained the relationship only became romantic and sexual when she was no longer treating the patient and after he said he had to go back to the US.

Although the hearing was told Miss Miller had declared many of the gifts she had received, it decided her actions still amounted to “serious misconduct”.

The panel ruled she had “abused” her power and position and her conduct had fallen “seriously short” of the standards expected of a nurse.

Miss Miller was served a caution order for three years.