Royal Adelaide Hospital nurse Andrew James Atkins banned for five years for ‘depraved’ conduct

A Royal Adelaide Hospital nurse has been banned for five years after several months of “highly repugnant” behaviour, a tribunal has ruled.

A Royal Adelaide Hospital nurse has been banned for five years for “abhorrent and highly repugnant” behaviour at work – including exposing and touching his penis – while in the presence of other staff members.

In a published ruling, the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal found Andrew James Atkins, 56, conduct, which had occurred over a period of about eight months, was “depraved” and demonstrated “a complete lack of regard for common decency and a lack of respect for work colleagues”.

Mr Atkins, who first registered as a nurse in January 1998, was working as a nurse consultant at the hospital at the time of the offending, which began in June 2020 and “escalated” over a number of months.

“The conduct occurred while (a colleague) was sitting next to him at her desk, and sometimes when a number of other staff were in the area,” the tribunal noted.

In its ruling, the tribunal noted a colleague first complained to Mr Atkins and had hoped his behaviour would resolve, before raising it with a manager in April 2021.

His last shift was the following day and he was subsequently directed away from the hospital before resigning a week later.

The ruling noted Mr Atkins did not challenge the alleged facts, nor a finding of professional misconduct being made against him.

“No explanation was forthcoming and neither was there any kind of statement of regret, remorse or apology,” the tribunal found.

The Royal Adelaide Hospital, where Andrew James Atkins’ depraved behaviour occurred. Picture: AAP/David Mariuz

Mr Atkins did not personally attend the hearing which was held last October. The tribunal handed down its ruling in November and it has recently been published.

The tribunal also noted Mr Atkins “refused to be interviewed” by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency until he attended an “interview under compulsion” in January 2022.

The tribunal found Mr Atkins’ conduct amounted to professional misconduct, being both “substantially below the standard reasonably expected of a registered health practitioner” and “inconsistent” with him being a “fit and proper person to hold registration”.

He was last registered in May 2021, and was disqualified from applying for registration for five years or providing any health service until he obtains re-registration.

The tribunal also found Mt Atkins’ behaviour gave rise to a concern as to whether he was able to maintain control of his sexual urges “and afford his colleagues basic respect”.

“There is a strong need in this matter to demonstrate to members of the profession and to the public that behaviour of this nature and is not to be tolerated, being sexual misconduct as well as being conduct that fails to show respect for professional colleagues and fails to observe ordinary human behavioural boundaries.”

Originally published as Royal Adelaide Hospital nurse Andrew James Atkins banned for five years for ‘depraved’ conduct