Nurse faces hearing over claims he had sex with former patient

Jan 10 2013 by Andy Newport, Paisley Daily Express

A mental health nurse who worked at a Paisley hospital faces being struck off over claims he had sex with a former patient.

It is alleged that Raymond Costigane befriended a person, named only as ‘Patient A’, while he was employed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in the North Ward at Dykebar Hospital.

Mr Costigane, it is claimed, later got involved in a sexual relationship with the patient, which is strictly against nursing rules.

Now he is to face a number of charges brought against him by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Mr Costigane is due to appear before the NMC’s Conduct and Competence Committee in Edinburgh for a four-day hearing, which is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 28.

The claims against him state that Patient A had been staying in the North Ward at Dykebar, which treats a number of patients who have mental health issues, before being discharged in July 2006.

The NMC claims that, between August 2006 and December 2009, Mr Costigane breached professional boundaries by having a coffee with Patient A.

They also say he broke rules when, from September 2006 to December 2006, he exchanged text messages with the patient.

And it is claimed the extent of their friendship developed to the point that, from around December 2006 to December 2009, Mr Costigane engaged in a “personal and/or sexual” relationship with Patient A.

Bosses at the NMC will argue that, in light of these allegations, Mr Costigane’s “fitness to practise” has been impaired “by reason of his misconduct.”

If found guilty of breaking nursing guidelines, Mr Costigane faces a number of sanctions, including being banned from working with patients.