An Altrincham mental health nurse struck up a sexual relationship with a patient after he liked her profile on the app Tinder.

Jackline Wills and the patient, Patient A, met at the mental health hospital Priory Hospital, on Rappax Road, two years ago.

Patient A was in the first week of a one-month addiction programme when he liked Ms Wills's profile on the app Tinder, after which the two of them chatted when he collected his medication, a tribunal of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) heard this month.

They shared suggestive messages on Instagram after the mental health nurse, an agency nurse with Search Consultancy, said she was soon to have her last shift at the hospital.

The NMC ruling said: "On March 22, 2022, Patient A sent Miss Wills a message with the 'pair of eyes' emoji and an 'x'. Miss Wills responded with the same two minutes later. 

"She sent Patient A a message which read 'I'm not going to lie, you're one of the most attractive guys I've seen in a long time. That smile and them dimples [heart eyes emoji] x'."

On April 8, 2022, Ms Wills had her last shift at the hospital and, the next day, Patient A received overnight leave which he used to go on a date with her. He stayed at her house.

They stayed together two more times at her house on April 16 and at a hotel on April 20, both after Patient A's date of discharge, but Ms Wills broke up with him a week later.

Patient A told his doctor about the break-up and its impact on his mental health. Patient A was detained under the Mental Health Act for a short time in the weeks afterwards.

The doctor reported the relationship to the authorities and although Ms Wills claimed it was not a sexual relationship at the time Ms Wills admitted it was a sexual relationship last month leading to a tribunal of the NMC.

The NMC ruling reads: "Balancing all of the factors, and after taking into account all the evidence before it during this case, the panel agreed that the appropriate and proportionate sanction is that of a striking-off order. 

"The panel considered that this order was necessary to mark the importance of maintaining public confidence in the profession and to send to the public and the profession a clear message about the standard of behaviour required of a registered nurse."

A spokesperson for Priory Hospital said: "Ms Wills worked at our Altrincham Hospital temporarily as an agency nurse.

"As soon as we became aware of this conduct we reported Ms Wills to the NMC and she has not worked with us since." 

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.