NHS nurse shared emotional post after wining huge payout as patient claimed she was pregnant with his child

An NHS nurse has shared an emotional post on social media after winning a huge payout when she was wrongly suspended for two years.

Jessica Thorpe was sent home from work when a patient, known as Patient X, claimed that they were having an 'inappropriate relationship' and that she was 'pregnant with his child.'

The man was under Thorpe's care at a secure facility for men with mental health disorders after being referred from a prison facility, the BBC reported.

Three days later, Thorpe was suspended from her role with the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, which she had began in 2016.

However, five years on from being suspended, Thorpe has this week been awarded £24,118 after winning her claim for unfair dismissal, breach of contract and unlawful deduction of wages.

Sharing an emotional post on social media, Thorpe wrote: "5 years to the day that I got sent home suspended. Quite poetic. My shoulders have dropped. My jaw has unclenched. Finally I’m free."

In a video, Thorpe shared a montage of online newspaper headlines, along with a clip of her sitting among what looks like hundreds of legal documents.

With her head in her hands and becoming visibly upset, Thorpe added: "After 1855 days. It's finally over. Case closed. Done. I can finally breathe."

Thorpe's ordeal began in 2020 when she was suspended from her role following the accusations.

The following month, she was informed that a disciplinary investigation would take place - but it didn't actually happen until July 2021, more than a year later.

An employment tribunal heard that a 'series of extensions' were applied, with Thorpe only receiving basic pay during this time which meant she was losing £1,000 per month.

While Thorpe was invited back to her role in October 2022, she resigned, claiming that her employers had failed to stamp out staff 'gossip' about the 'alleged relationship.'

The nurse managed to forge a successful social media career, becoming an online foodie, then sued the Trust for constructive unfair dismissal, unlawful deduction of wages and breach of contract.

In wake of the decision announced by the employment tribunal in November last year, Lynne Shaw, executive director of workforce and organisational development at the trust, said: "The Trust is disappointed with the outcome of the tribunal. However, we respect the findings of the tribunal and will look at what lessons can be learned."

Following her triumph in court, Thorpe shared a statement on social media, explaining: "These last four-and-a-half years have been torture for me, and I did not deserve a second of it.

"I'm just glad that the end of the road is near. I will not be taking any time off from social media, as this has already stolen years of my time and happiness, and I will not allow it to steal any more.

"Thank you for everyone who has been so kind to me."