East Kilbride nurse struck off after sexual assault on colleague during shift

EAST KILBRIDE NURSE STRUCK OFF AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT ON COLLEAGUE DURING SHIFT

Andrew Cassels, a former nurse working in the Accident and Emergency Department at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride, was convicted at Hamilton Sheriff Court of sexually assaulting a female colleague.

He was found in January 2024 to have repeatedly seized and handled the woman’s clothed buttocks.

Cassels was sentenced on April 2, 2024, to a Community Payback order for a period of 24 months of supervision, 200 hours of unpaid work, and Sexual Offences Act 2003 certification, with a notification requirement for two years.

A panel of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) convened on August 31 to decide whether Cassels could continue working as a nurse.

Cassels did not attend the hearing.

Lindsey McFarlane, the case presenter for the NMC, stated that Cassels had “brought the nursing profession into disrepute” and “breached the fundamental tenets of the nursing profession.” Ms.

McFarlane also emphasized that Cassels’ offence indicates “deep seated behavioural and attitudinal issues” and a “risk of repetition.” Cassels denies committing the offence, which Ms.

McFarlane highlighted as demonstrating “a lack of remorse or remediation.” The NMC panel found there was “no evidence” that Cassels had shown “any insight or remorse on the seriousness of his actions and its impact on colleagues and on patient safety,” instead pointing out that he had highlighted the impact of the proceedings on himself.

The panel concluded that a finding of impairment was “necessary on the grounds of public protection” and decided to strike Cassels from the register.

The panel described his actions as “significant departures from the standards expected of a registered nurse,” emphasizing they are “fundamentally incompatible with him remaining on the register.”