A senior anaesthetist left a patient lying unconscious on an operating table to have sex with a nurse in another room, a medical tribunal in Manchester has heard.
Dr. Suhail Anjum, 44, was caught in a “compromising position” with an unnamed nurse at Tameside Hospital, Greater Manchester, while a patient under his care remained sedated during surgery in September 2023.
According to evidence presented at a General Medical Council (GMC) fitness-to-practise hearing, the doctor excused himself mid-procedure claiming he needed a “comfort break.” He then asked a colleague to monitor the patient before sneaking off to another theatre where he engaged in sexual activity with a nurse identified only as “Nurse C.”
The scandal erupted when a shocked colleague walked in on the pair and reported the matter to her superiors.
Despite abandoning his patient, Dr. Anjum returned roughly eight minutes later and continued with the operation, which was completed without harm to the patient. However, GMC representatives stressed that his reckless actions carried a clear risk of endangering lives.
Andrew Molloy, representing the GMC, told the tribunal:
“The nurse who entered the room was shocked by what she saw and immediately left. While no direct harm came to the patient, Dr. Anjum’s actions created the potential for serious risk.”
The disgraced consultant did not contest the allegations, instead describing his behaviour as “shameful” and “a one-off error of judgment.”
In his defence, he admitted:
“It was quite shameful, to say the least. I only have myself to blame. I let down my colleagues, my patients, and the NHS trust. I sincerely apologise and want the opportunity to put this right.”
Dr. Anjum attempted to explain his misconduct by citing “stress” at home, saying he and his wife were struggling after the premature birth of their daughter.
Despite his plea to resume his career in the UK, the tribunal heard that his conduct not only breached professional ethics but also betrayed the trust of patients who put their lives in the hands of medical professionals.
The GMC emphasised that such reckless behaviour cannot be tolerated in a profession built on safeguarding lives and maintaining the highest standards of care.
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