Nurse on charge of sex with criminally insane patient

A mental health nurse who allegedly had sex with criminally insane patients is facing the end of her career.

The nurse, who worked at the secure Mason Clinic in Auckland and who has name suppression, faces one charge of professional misconduct before the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.

At the start of its hearing today director of proceedings Theo Baker alleged the nurse had a sexual relationship with the dangerous patient between June and October 2004.

She also allegedly gave him a cell phone which the pair used to text message and phone each other.

The nurse is alleged to have taken the man to her West Auckland home where they had sex when they should have been in other places like at the movies or in a shopping mall.

Among the incidents mentioned today were that they had sex in toilets at Unitech, in a library and at a McDonald's restaurants.

The nurse had also failed to tell her managers about an attempted escape by another dangerous patient.

Text messages read out today showed the nurse saying "I love u babe" and "I love u so much and I fear I am going to lose you".

Mason clinic boss Dr Sandy Simpson - who is also Waitemata District Health board's mental health clinical director - told the tribunal staff were never allowed to take patient's home because it breached professional boundaries.

The nurse resigned soon after the offending came to light.

The hearing is continuing.

- © Fairfax NZ News