NHS Medic Dismissed for Inappropriate Conduct with Vulnerable Patient After Suicide Attempt
An NHS Emergency Medical Technician has been dismissed from his position after engaging in highly inappropriate contact with a vulnerable patient immediately following her suicide attempt. Ivan Perkins, a 42-year-old Emergency Medical Technician based in Essex, was found to have breached professional boundaries by giving the patient his personal contact details and arranging to meet her privately.
Details of the Incident and Subsequent Actions
The employment tribunal, held in east London, heard that Mr Perkins responded to an emergency call on August 25, 2022, where he and another senior EMT discovered a patient with rope around her neck. After safely releasing her and transporting her to Broomfield Hospital in Essex, Mr Perkins remained in the back of the ambulance with the patient while his colleague drove.
During this journey, Mr Perkins informed the vulnerable patient that he was a qualified fitness trainer who had overcome depression through exercise and reading. He encouraged her to join a gym to improve her mental health and offered to create a personalised training and diet plan for her. Most concerningly, he told her to 'hit him up' on social media under the username 'Kai Perfect' and provided her with his personal phone number.
Escalation of Inappropriate Contact
The tribunal heard that text message exchanges began the following day, with Mr Perkins referring to the patient as 'hun' and sending messages such as 'Hey gorgeous lady' and 'Good morning sleeping beauty', often ending with a series of X's. When the patient revealed on August 27 that she was struggling with thoughts of taking an overdose, Mr Perkins asked for her address to 'drop something off for her' instead of alerting emergency services or advising hospital treatment.
He persuaded her to meet him instead, and when she indicated she was going to a bridge, he met her there and physically prevented her from climbing onto it. Despite this dangerous situation, Mr Perkins did not call an ambulance when the patient expressed concern about losing her job. Instead, he drove her to a service station, purchased drinks for both of them, and bought her a bouquet of flowers before eventually dropping her in a car park.
Discovery and Dismissal
The inappropriate interactions only came to light several months later in October 2022, when another ambulance crew attended the same patient for suicide concerns. She revealed to a crew member that 'a male member of staff had attended her in August and that he had taken her out on a date'. This was promptly reported, leading to an investigation by the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
When questioned in November 2022, Mr Perkins provided a statement that omitted crucial details, including the purchase of flowers and the patient's attempt to kiss him during their encounter. Following a thorough investigation, he was dismissed in February 2023 for gross misconduct, with his subsequent appeal proving unsuccessful.
Rejected Discrimination Claim
Mr Perkins, who is black, attempted to sue the ambulance trust for race discrimination, but the tribunal dismissed his claim. The judgment noted that the individual who initially reported the patient's allegations did not know Mr Perkins' identity or race at the time of reporting, undermining any suggestion of racial bias in the disciplinary process.
Following the ruling, Mr Perkins maintained that he had treated the patient 'like a human being' and claimed to have signposted her to emergency services. He expressed frustration, stating: 'Here I am as black ambulance staff, doing a good deed on my off day and I have been handed the worst case of losing my job.'
The case highlights serious concerns about professional boundaries within emergency healthcare services and the paramount importance of maintaining appropriate conduct with vulnerable patients, particularly those in mental health crises.
