Nurse suspended for deception used to pester ‘famous footballer’ in hospital ward

By Adrian Zorzut, Local Democracy Reporter

A west London nurse has been suspended after lying to colleagues so he could enter a famous footballer’s private hospital suite after surgery and get a photo with him.

Mohammad Nawshad Moosuddee was handed a four-month suspension and deemed impaired to practise by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) following a hearing earlier this month.

Mr Moosuddee admitted visiting the footballer, known only as Patient X, without clinical justification, but denied being dishonest to colleagues to gain entry into the room at the Cromwell Hospital in South Kensington on October 28, 2020.

The NMC heard from a number of witnesses who claimed Mr Moosuddee told them he had been asked to check up on Patient X on behalf of the surgeon, who carried out an operation on the footballer. They said the nurse also claimed to have been in the theatre during the operation and entered the ward without presenting to reception.

Mr Moosuddee, who has been a registered nurse since 1994, admitted to shaking the footballer’s hand and asking if he was “doing photos”. Mr Moosuddee said he had asked the question as a “form of protective enquiry” on behalf of the hospital, which the NMC panel found was not plausible.

The registered nurse also admitted to lowering his face mask while in the footballer’s room and took a picture with the surgeon, which he was later asked to delete.

In handing down its ruling, the NMC wrote: “The panel was of the view that you did know what you were doing and that an ordinary member of the public would find your actions to be dishonest.

“It was of the view that you created a position which justified doing what you did, which in itself is dishonest, and gave a false impression to several colleagues.

“The panel was of the view that you had no legitimate reason to visit Patient X and that you have admitted this. You knew you should not have been there by your own admission.”

Gheerjanand Bisnauthsing, Mr Moosuddee’s lawyer, said his client had simply wanted to visit his favourite footballer and experienced a lapse of judgement.

Mr Bisnauthsing said the incident was an “unfortunate mistake” and out of character and that Mr Moosuddee accepted his actions were “outside professional practice” and was sorry. He also added his client had an unblemished 30-year career and had worked with VIP patients without a hitch until this point.

But the panel said Mr Moosuddee had breached a number of the hospital’s code of practice and policies, including its Covid-19 protocols at a time when cases were significantly rising in the country.

It said the nurse’s action fell seriously short of the conduct expected of the profession and had put Patient X at an unwarranted risk of harm.

It said Mr Moosuddee had not fully understood the gravity of his actions but agreed it was an “opportunistic” one-off incident of misconduct and on the less serious end of the spectrum.

Mr Moosuddee faces a review in four months where his suspension may be lifted or a new order put in place. He said he will not challenge the suspension order.

Witnesses said Mr Moosuddee tried to use his hospital pass to gain access to the ward the high-profile patient was staying in and told the nurse in charge on the day that he had been asked by the surgeon to go and see Patient X.

They said Patient X and his wife had complained about Mr Moosuddee and asked who he was. They did not wish to provide a formal statement.

Mr Moosuddee was suspended from the hospital within an hour of the incident and later fired on November 16, 2020, after a disciplinary hearing found gross misconduct had taken place.

Mr Moosuddee’s was approached for comment through his lawyer.

Pictured top: Cromwell Hospital, where Mohammad Nawshad Moosuddee worked (Picture: Google Street View)