A married doctor romped with a nurse in an operating theatre whilst a patient lay unconscious under anaesthetic, a medical tribunal has heard.
Dr Suhail Anjum and the unnamed nurse were discovered in a “compromising position” by a “stunned” colleague at Tameside Hospital who stumbled upon the pair.
The consultant anaesthetist had requested another nursing colleague to keep watch over the male patient midway through the operation so he could take a comfort break.
However, 44 year old Dr Anjum ventured to another operating theatre at the hospital in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, where he engaged in sexual activity with a nurse – identified in the hearing as Nurse C.
Andrew Molloy, representing the General Medical Council said Dr Anjum was the anaesthetist for five cases in theatre five on September 16, 2023 and departed the room during the third case, reports the Mirror.
He said, moments later, a Nurse NT entered theatre eight and “encountered Dr Anjum and Nurse C in a compromising position”.
Mr Molloy said: “She described seeing Nurse C with her trousers around her knee area with her underwear on display and Dr Anjum was in the process of tying up the cord of his trousers. Nurse NT was shocked and quickly walked through the theatre to the exit doors.
“Dr Anjum returned to theatre five and was gone for about eight minutes before his return. It is right to say that no harm came to the patient when Dr Anjum was absent from the theatre and the procedure went on without further incident.”
Dr Anjum confessed to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service hearing that he had engaged in sexual activity with Nurse C, knowing she was “likely to be nearby” when he left his patient. He admitted that his actions could have put his patient at risk.
The doctor revealed that he left Tameside hospital in February 2024 and has since returned to his native Pakistan. However, he expressed a desire to continue his career in the UK and assured there would not be a repeat of this “one-off error of judgment”.
In his testimony, Dr Anjum stated: “It was quite shameful, to say the least. I only have myself to blame. I let down everybody, Not just my patient and myself but the trust and how it would look. I let down my colleagues who gave me a lot of respect.”
He acknowledged it was “unfair” to ask the anaesthetic nurse to cover for him and that he had also placed Nurse NT in an “awkward position”. He added: “But, most importantly the patient. If my doctor had gone away without telling me… this breaks me to pieces every day when I think about it.
“I have always set very high standards for myself because the job is my passion. I don’t know how and why it happened but I wish I could reverse it. I offer my sincere apologies to everyone involved and I want the opportunity to put this right.”
Dr Anjum revealed that the incident occurred during a “stressful time” for his family following the birth of his youngest child in January 2023. He stated: “Our daughter was born premature, with a very, very low birth weight.
“My wife had a very traumatic delivery, it was quite a stressful experience. We failed to connect as a couple during that time. It took a toll on my personal life, my mental health and wellbeing, and my work at the hospital.”
The hearing in Manchester will resume on Friday when the panel will consider whether Dr Anjum’s fitness to practise has been compromised due to misconduct.
