A mental health nurse has been struck off after handing out his phone number to a vulnerable patient and insisting on giving them a lift and holding their hand.

Sivagnanam Kiritharan, a registered nurse at Kent and Medway NHS Social Care Partnership Trust, admitted a string of inappropriate behaviour towards a sexual abuse victim under his care.

The woman, known as patient A, was receiving treatment at Canada House in Barnsole Road, Gillingham.

She had opened up to Mr Kiritharan about a history of sexual abuse by men in their family, a three-day virtual hearing of the Nursing and Midwifery Council heard.

A fitness to practice hearing held last month listed proven charges against the mental health nurse, including giving his phone number out, holding the patient's hand and lying about seeking permission to give her a lift to her daughter's school.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) explained the incidents took place in 2018 and concerns about Mr Kiritharan's fitness to practise were referred to them in May 2019 from the head of nursing at the Trust.

Mr Kiritharan, who has worked as a nurse for 37 years, accepted that on February 26, 2018, he gave patient A his personal phone number and called them later that day as well as on March 15 and March 16 of the same year.

"They described to you their history of sexual abuse by men in their family and you should have been alert to the safeguarding risks of touching or holding their hand whilst alone with them during that appointment."

He also accepted that on March 16 he held the patient's hand but allegations he hugged, kissed her and offered to take her to dinner – and that these actions were sexually motivated – were not proven.

During the hearing it was revealed allegations were made against him in 2003 while he was working for Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust in south east London.

A referral was made to the NMC in 2005 but the matter did not progress beyond the investigating committee.

Amy Woolfson, who was representing the NMS, said Mr Kiritharan's dishonesty and failure to admit some of the proven offences meant his conduct "fell well below the standards of a registered nurse".

The panel found the nurse breached professional boundaries by handing out his person phone number and this was a "serious shortfall" of the conduct and standards of a registered nurse.

It also found Mr Kiritharan's action of holding patient A's hand given her history of sexual abuse was inappropriate.

A document from the hearing added: "They [Patient A] described to you their history of sexual abuse by men in their family and you should have been alert to the safeguarding risks of touching or holding their hand whilst alone with them during that appointment.

"However, the panel considered that, taking into account patient A’s history and that they were vulnerable at the time, which you were well aware of, your breach of professional boundaries in this regard was a serious shortfall of the conduct and standards expected of a registered nurse."

The panel also found Mr Kiritharan's lies about asking for permission to give the patient a lift home or to her daughter's school did not amount to serious misconduct.

But it said the nurse had behaved dishonestly and his actions caused emotional harm to the patient which "breached the fundamental tenets of the nursing profession".

Mr Kiritharan received a striking-off order – the most serious sanction barring him from practice – from the NMC which will take effect after the 28-day appeal window.

He had already left his role at the Medway site and has revealed he has no intention to return to nursing.

A spokesman from Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust said: "We are strongly committed to safeguarding our patients and ensuring our staff uphold the high standards of conduct that we expect from them.

"We have processes for staff and patients to report any concerns. These are then thoroughly investigated, and appropriate action is taken including reporting to relevant bodies, as was the case with this individual.”

“We can confirm the individual resigned whilst under suspension, before ours and the NMC’s formal investigations concluded."

Mr Kiritharan declined to comment.