Manchester doctor who left operating theatre to have sex with nurse allowed to continue practising

Dr Anjum qualified with an MBBS from the University of Health Sciences, Pakistan in 2004 and later moved to the United Kingdom in 2011.

In July 2015, Dr Anjum was appointed as a Consultant Anaesthetist at Tameside and Glossop NHS Foundation Trust (‘the Trust’) until he was dismissed in February 2024 following an internal investigation.

The allegation that led to the tribunal hearing is that on 16 September 2023, Mr Anjum was the consultant anaesthetist providing cover for Patient A who was undergoing an operation. It is alleged that Mr Anjum asked Nurse B, an anaesthetic nurse, to monitor Patient A for him so he could take a comfort break.

It is further alleged that, while absent from the operating theatre, Mr Anjum engaged in sexual activity with Nurse C in another theatre and was subsequently found in a “compromising position” by another colleague.

In all the circumstances, the tribunal found that “whilst Dr Anjum’s misconduct did not warrant a finding that his fitness to practise is currently impaired, the Tribunal determined that it was appropriate to issue a warning for the purpose of maintaining public confidence in the medical profession, and to uphold proper standards in the profession.”

Dr Anjum in a statement said: “Over the past two years, I have considered the events which took place on 16 September 2023 in detail. This has been the worst experience of my professional career, and I regret my behaviour every single day. I fully acknowledge that my actions on that day fell seriously below the standards expected of me both professionally and ethically and I am truly sorry and ashamed. Every time I reflect on it, I cannot believe what happened, as I have always taken pride in my professionalism and the values that I set for judgement.”