A nurse placed under restrictions after patients complained she preached to them about her religion has been told she is fit to return to work.

Sarah Kuteh was sacked from her job at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford in 2016 after she gave a Bible to a patient.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) imposed a "practice order" which meant she had to be supervised by a superior nurse while working, among a number of conditions.

It has now decided it is in the public interest that Ms Kuteh return to work.

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust spokesman Sue Daniels said: "We are pleased that Sarah is now able to continue her career as a nurse unrestricted.

"Sarah has clearly reflected and demonstrated to the NMC that she is able to now satisfy the fitness to practice panel, removing the earlier restrictions placed on her practice due to a finding of impairment.

"Having heard and taken into consideration the cases for both parties, the independent Employment Tribunal found the Trust’s dismissal of Sarah Kuteh was fair."

She added that Ms Kuteh's dismissal came about after the nurse was made aware of a series of complaints from patients asking her to refrain from preaching to them and her behaviour did not change.

Ms Daniels said: "We took no satisfaction in having dismissed Sarah but must always act in the best interests of our patients and in accordance with professional codes of conduct."

Although she has been working at a nursing home in the interim period, she was only allowed to work subject to a range of conditions, including close supervision by a senior nurse.

"How could it ever be harmful to tell someone about Jesus?.." - Sarah Kuteh

In front of a panel at a NMC hearing last month, her supervisor described her as a kind, caring, honest, friendly nurse and a valuable member of the team.

She had worked in the profession for 15 years and at Darent Valley Hospital since 2007.

Her job involved asking people undergoing treatment about their faith as part of a pre-op assessment questionnaire.

On average she would see around 30 to 40 patients a week and over the course of six months spoke to hundreds of patients.

Ms Kuteh was supported by the Christian Legal Centre since the beginning of her case in 2016.

She said in a statement: "All I had done was to nurse and care for patients. How could it ever be harmful to tell someone about Jesus?"

However, she admitted at the most recent hearing on Thursday, July 26, that giving her personal Bible to a person she was looking after was going too far and crossing professional boundaries.

Christian Legal Centre chief executive Andrea Williams said: "We are delighted that Sarah Kuteh is once again able to practise nursing without restrictions

"Without proper investigation, she was fired and her long career as a nurse was put under threat.

"Those who know Sarah recognise what a caring, hard-working nurse she is and the professionalism she brings to her job.

"We rejoice that she is once again free to bring her skill and expertise to her role as a nurse."