A former Reading nurse has been suspended from practice after inappropriate patient contact and breaches of confidentiality.
Obinna Julius Onwukwe, a registered adult nurse, was sanctioned following a hearing before the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) Fitness to Practise Committee.
Mr Onwukwe worked as a band 5 staff nurse in the emergency department at Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading between February 23, 2022, and August 27, 2023.
The NMC received a referral from the Trust’s Associate Chief Nurse on January 9, 2024, raising concerns about his conduct towards two patients between September 2022 and May 2023.
Mr Onwukwe admitted to several charges, including contacting Patient A through social media without consent or clinical justification, and touching Patient B's shoulder and referring to them as a "cute boy."
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He also admitted to accessing Patient B’s clinical records without authorisation to obtain their mobile number and later contacting them without clinical justification.
An investigation report dated October 21, 2022, recorded that he used the patient’s contact details to make a welfare-related call.
In a statement included in the NMC report, Mr Onwukwe said: "I completely accept that I used my own mobile phone to call patient B, but I did so to check on his welfare and patient B was aware I would be obtaining his number from his records."
Additional charges that he touched Patient A’s penis without justification, suggested meeting outside of work for sexual reasons, and made sexually explicit comments, were not found proved.
The panel considered his actions amounted to misconduct and ruled that his fitness to practise was impaired.
The panel said: "The repetition of your conduct, despite receiving disciplinary action, was serious, and would be considered deplorable by a fellow practitioner."
While Mr Onwukwe showed some insight and completed relevant training, the panel determined he had only "limited insight" and had not fully remediated his behaviour.
It said: "The panel further considered that there was a lack of sufficient evidence before it for it to be satisfied that the misconduct would not be repeated in the future."
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As a result, it imposed a nine-month suspension order.
The panel determined that a conditions of practice order would not be appropriate given the nature of Mr Onwukwe’s behavioural misconduct, which did not relate to his clinical skills.
It said: "The panel determined that a suspension order for a period of nine months was appropriate in this case to mark the seriousness of the misconduct, and would also provide you with sufficient time to address your misconduct and develop your insight."
An interim suspension order for 18 months was also imposed to cover the appeal period.
At the end of the suspension, the case will be reviewed by another panel, which will decide whether to revoke, confirm, or replace the order.
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