'I was forced out of job as NHS nurse after patient claimed I was pregnant with his child'

A “bullied” nurse who was suspended when a psychiatric patient falsely accused her of with his child has been awarded a massive sum . Jessica Thorpe’s nightmare began when the patient told her directly he believed she was carrying his child and she immediately told her supervisors of the lie and made a note on his file.

When he repeated his made up claim to her supervisors, the 31-year-old was suspended from duty on basic pay and it was not for another two years she was told she could return to her post. She resigned from the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Foundation Trust a month later.

Ms Thorpe has now been awarded £25K after she won a claim for unfair dismissal, breach of contract and unlawful deduction of wages. She said: “I wasn't pregnant, not by him or anyone. It was a complete lie - it was just one of this patient's delusional beliefs.

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"Despite this, the allegation was taken as gospel and I was suspended. I was absolutely devastated and couldn't believe what was happening.

“I had been off for a few days and as soon as I returned I was pulled into a meeting. I didn't even get to see a ward. I was told I was banned from site and I couldn't speak to my colleagues.

"I was immediately isolated from everyone. I was upset, I cried, and I was confused. While I was away from work, I received threatening phone calls and people wrote nasty things about me online.

"Someone claimed I had abused a patient until they committed suicide on a gossip forum. I felt so vulnerable I installed cameras at my house. People assumed I was guilty. I felt bullied.”

"I had also lost the career I loved, and fell into depression, it was one of the darkest periods of my life. I had to beg the NHS for counselling.”

In October 2022, Jessica was finally sent an email which outlined her return to work - but she resigned the following month fearing gossip about her had spread. The trust argued the real reason she left was because she wanted to focus on a new career as an influencer.

Ms Thorpe was posting food content on an account known as Slice of Jess, which had accrued more than 50,000 followers by the time of the hearing. The panel was told from her dismissal in November 2022 to last month, Ms Thorpe had made £46,362 from her social media activities after expenses and tax.

She added: "I was uploading pictures of my meals but I never meant it to take off in the way that it did. It suddenly blew up out of nowhere. It was mostly a big distraction.

"I couldn't do anything else. I was told that I wasn't allowed to talk to anyone what was going on or seek other work. Taking photographs brought me a little bit of joy. It's not true I left to pursue a career on social media.”

Employment Judge Simon Loy concluded there had been an "enormous period" in which Ms Thorpe was suspended, but the "real issue" arose from the trust's decision not to allow her back to work after the disciplinary hearing. After winning the tribunal, Ms Thorpe was awarded £24,118 in compensation.

Lynne Shaw, executive director of workforce at the trust, said although it was disappointed by the outcome, the trust respects "the findings of the tribunal and will look at what lessons can be learned".