Former Austin hospital nurse Jessica Middleton had sex with vulnerable patients
A former Austin Health nurse has admitted having sex with two vulnerable patients — and she still holds a top position in a mental health organisation.
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A former Austin Health nurse disqualified after she admitted having sex with two mentally unwell patients still holds a top-level job with a mental health organisation.
Jessica Middleton, 33, was reprimanded by a VCAT panel on Tuesday after it was determined she engaged in professional misconduct.
Middleton’s lewd conduct began after she commenced as a graduate nurse with Austin Health’s psychological trauma recovery service inpatient ward in early 2016.
The naughty nurse had sex with the first patient she treated.
Middleton, who also played after pool with the patient at the hospital, accessed the man’s records on multiple occasions.
The pair swapped Facebook messages which were shown to the panel.
The messages included “inappropriate comments” Middleton wrote about other hospital staff.
Middleton was also aware the patient had “substance abuse” issues.
The on-again off-again relationship ended in early 2019 after Middleton had quit Austin Health.
Middleton also had sex with a second patient she had treated.
She smoked cigarettes and played pool with this patient while at the hospital.
Middleton helped the man move his belongings after he was released from the hospital in mid 2017.
The patient later said his relationship with Middleton had a “serious impact on his mental state”.
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia moved to have Middleton suspended after her relationship with the first patient was revealed in mid-2017.
Middleton’s solicitor made a submission to committee which stated: “There is nothing to suggest that Ms Middleton is prone to develop inappropriate relationships generally.”
However, Middleton, who later said she “regretted not coming clean about everything at the time”, had not told the committee about the second patient.
As a result, Middleton was found to have mislead the committee.
The panel found all her mischief added up to professional misconduct.
“The evidence does not indicate that Ms Middleton’s conduct was predatory,” Tribunal member John Billings said on behalf of the panel.
“Nevertheless, her misconduct was extremely serious, even if the relationships were consensual, and whoever initiated each relationship and however each relationship was initiated.”
Middleton, who is now a team leader for a mental health organisation, was reprimanded and her health practitioner registration was cancelled.
She is barred from reapplying for registration until August 31 next year.
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