A serious case of medical misconduct has once again come into the spotlight in the UK. It involves a senior anaesthetist who shockingly left a patient under anaesthetic on the operating table so that he could have sex with a nurse in another room.
The BBC, which first reported the story on 11 September 2025, revealed that the doctor in question is 44-year-old Dr Suhail Anjum. The incident happened in September 2023 at Tameside Hospital in Greater Manchester. During a surgery, Dr Anjum suddenly told his colleagues he needed to take a “comfort break.” Instead of returning quickly, he went into another operating theatre, where he was later discovered in a sexual act with a nurse, identified only as Nurse C.
This shocking behavior has drawn huge attention on social media since the news broke. Many people have expressed outrage, calling it a serious betrayal of trust. Others are now questioning whether Dr Anjum should ever be allowed to work as a doctor in the UK again.
A fellow nurse, who happened to walk into the room and found the pair in a compromising situation, was described as being shocked and immediately left through the exit doors. This account was shared by Andrew Molloy, who was representing the General Medical Council (GMC) at the tribunal.
According to the evidence, Dr Anjum was away from the operating room for about eight minutes before returning to finish the procedure. Luckily, the patient was not harmed during his absence, and the surgery was completed without any further problems. Still, the GMC stressed that the doctor’s actions carried serious risks and were completely unacceptable.
A follow-up report published by The New Indian Express on 13 September 2025 explained that the case became public knowledge during a fitness-to-practise hearing. This hearing was triggered when Dr Anjum, who had been living in Pakistan, applied to return to work in the UK.
At the hearing, Dr Anjum admitted to his misconduct. He described his actions as “shameful” and admitted that leaving a patient unattended in such a way had the potential to put that patient’s safety at risk. He told the tribunal that it had been a “one-off error of judgment” and said:
It was quite shameful, to say the least. I only have myself to blame. I offer my sincere apologies to everyone involved, and I want the opportunity to put this right.
The doctor also explained that at the time of the incident, he was under heavy personal pressure. He mentioned that a baby in his family had been born prematurely, and he was also facing problems in his marriage. Despite these difficulties, he admitted that his choices were wrong and that he had let down not only his colleagues but also the NHS trust and the public.
The BBC reported that the hearing continued on Friday, 12 September, but no final decision has yet been announced. The tribunal is still discussing whether Dr Anjum should be allowed to return to medical practice in the UK or whether his actions have permanently damaged his right to work as a doctor.
