A disciplinary tribunal has revealed how consultant anaesthetist Dr. Suhail Anjum, 44, abandoned a patient under anaesthesia mid-operation to engage in sexual activity with a nurse at Tameside Hospital in Greater Manchester.
According to testimony presented at the tribunal, the incident occurred on September 16, 2023, during a routine gallbladder procedure. Dr. Anjum excused himself for a “comfort break,” leaving the anaesthetic nurse to monitor the sedated patient. Instead of returning, he entered another operating theatre and engaged in sexual activity with a colleague, identified only as “Nurse C.”
The brief encounter lasted about eight minutes before Dr. Anjum returned to complete the surgery. Another staff member, “Nurse NT,” walked in on the pair and later reported the incident, triggering an internal investigation. Although the patient remained stable and suffered no harm, hospital staff described the breach as “an appalling lapse in judgment.
Facing the General Medical Council (GMC) tribunal, Dr. Anjum admitted his misconduct, calling it “shameful” and accepting full responsibility. He cited severe emotional stress at the time — his newborn daughter had been born prematurely, and his wife’s delivery had been traumatic — but acknowledged that his personal struggles could not excuse endangering a patient.
Dr. Anjum left the UK for Pakistan in February 2024, but the GMC is now deciding whether he should ever be allowed to practise medicine in Britain again. The revelation has fueled widespread anger among patients’ rights advocates, who say the incident highlights systemic issues in hospital oversight and professional accountability.
Medical ethics experts warn the case could have far-reaching implications: “Even a few minutes of negligence can mean the difference between life and death,” one senior surgeon noted. “Trust in our healthcare system depends on professionals holding themselves to the highest standards.”
The tribunal’s final ruling on Dr. Anjum’s future in UK medicine is expected later this year — but for many, the damage to public confidence has already been done.
