A MENTAL health nurse has been suspended over an allegation that he had an inappropriate rel-ationship with a vuln-erable female patient.

Liam Whittaker, of Blackburn, became involved with a woman at Brierley Court independent hospital in Moston, Manchester, the Nursing and Midwifery Council heard.

Staff at the 16-bed hospital claimed he locked himself in the woman's room with all the lights turned off and embraced her.

Whittaker was dismissed by the hospital's proprietors, Care UK, after the patient complained and the company referred the matter to the nursing council in July.

A request for an interim suspension for 18 months while the case is investigated further was granted by the panel.

Lisa Clark, for the NMC, said: 'It would be best described as inappropriate touching and unprofessional conduct."

She said two colleagues also saw Whittaker hugging and 'rocking' with the woman in a hospital office. One described it as "the patient having her leg over his thigh, that they had their hand locked together and her hand was against his chest."

Whittaker denied anything inappropriate and said he may have had his hands on the patient's waist to prevent her banging her head when she was distressed.'.

He admitted holding the woman's hand on one occasion, but said it was to help 'control' her.

The alleged incidents took place after the patient had to be restrained by three members of staff including Whittaker last October.

"The registrant is confident that at all times he acted in the best interests of the patient," added Miss Clark.

"He does not deny at any stage that he engaged in a great deal of this behaviour."