Three-month suspension for RAF Cosford GP who had improper relationship with patient
A doctor who had an improper relationship with a married serviceman while working as a GP at RAF Cosford has been suspended for three months.
Dr Julien Nash regularly met up with the serviceman over eight months whilst she was treating him at the base.
The 54 year old, from Bridgnorth, was handed a three-month suspension on the doctor registration.
The decision, made by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester, will begin after a 28 day appeal period.
She initially faced being struck off.
Mr Joseph Spencer, chair of the tribunal, said: “The MPTS tribunal has decided it is necessary to impose a three-month suspension on the doctor’s registration. The suspension will begin after the 28 day appeal period
The tribunal did not impose an immediate order to cover the appeal period, and did not direct that review hearing should be held. The doctor will therefore return to full registration when the period of suspension expires.” MPTS tribunals make independent decisions about a doctor’s fitness to practise.
Intimate text messages which said: “I saw u too and I heard ur beep and my heart jumped because I love you.” and “Hello darling it was so wonderful at lunchtime,” were sent by Nash.
Her husband, Andrew, 66, became suspicious after spotting a birthday message from the patient on his wife’s Facebook page.
A formal complaint was also made by the wife of the serviceman, known as Patient A, to bosses at RAF Cosford.
Concerns first arose when Dr Nash referred herself to the General Medical Council – informing them she had conducted herself in an inappropriate relationship and there had been a complaint from the patient’s wife.
This was followed by a meeting to discuss the complaint and put forward her account.
During the hearing, she said: “A patient and a doctor should not be kissing and I wanted to carry on with the friendship but not to pursue it in any other way.
“It was a friendship and at the time I didn’t realise the depth of the affection that was building up.
“We always met in a public place and we were seen by members of staff that we knew.
“It was an escape for me at lunch time to go for a walk and have a conversation that was not about medicine. At the time I had transferred his care to another doctor and so I didn’t see anything untoward really. We were just walking and talking and had the occasional kiss.”
Her lawyer added that the medical care of the patient did not “suffer at all” and that there is “no suggestion of that.”
