Eliot Aluge has been struck off the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register following a disciplinary panel’s finding that he began a sexual relationship with a vulnerable inpatient under his care.
The NMC panel concluded that Mr Aluge’s actions caused “emotional and psychological harm” to the patient, referred to as Patient A.
Patient A was detained under the Mental Health Act by South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation Trust, which covers health services in Lewisham, Beckenham and Croydon.
The panel was satisfied that Mr Aluge “entered into and continued a sexual relationship” with Patient A.
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He admitted the relationship but claimed their relationship had begun prior to her admission to hospital —an account the panel described as “implausible.” It concluded the relationship “more likely than not” started while she was under his care.
Vanessa Smith, Chief Nursing Officer, at SLaM, said: “We strongly condemn the actions of this individual. Patient care and safety are our highest priorities, and this behaviour has no place in any part of our Trust.
“When concerns were raised, the Trust acted immediately. We launched an investigation and suspended the individual in June 2023. Following a thorough investigation, they were dismissed in October 2023.
“We have fully supported the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s investigation and welcome its decision.”
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Patient A told the panel that Mr Aluge took her to a park, kissed her, and touched her inappropriately while she remained an inpatient.
She also said he later entered her bedroom, exposed himself, and asked her to perform a sexual act.
Mr Aluge admitted to other professional boundary breaches, including conducting night-time observations on Patient A, watching her bathe when a female staff member should have been present, and obtaining her phone number without clinical justification.
He messaged her, called her repeatedly, and on unknown dates, asked her for money.
The panel said: “It was completely inappropriate for a nurse to ask a vulnerable patient they are meant to be caring for, for money.”
Mr Aluge was suspended by the trust on June 2, 2023, and later dismissed.
The trust then referred the case to the NMC, which had already imposed an interim conditions of practice order while the investigation continued.
The panel described Mr Aluge’s behaviour as a “significant departure” from the standards expected of a nurse and an “abuse of a position of trust.”
It noted his “predatory behaviour,” which included maintaining contact after Patient A’s discharge and continuing to pursue her after he stopped working on the ward.
Although Mr Aluge provided reflections, testimonials, and early admissions to many of the charges, the panel found his insight “limited,” noting that his written reflections focused on the impact on him rather than the harm caused to the patient.
The panel said there was “a real risk of repetition” due to his lack of insight and remediation.
It concluded that his actions breached “fundamental tenets of the profession” and brought the profession into disrepute.
The NMC imposed a striking-off order, stating that public confidence “could not be maintained” if Mr Aluge were allowed to remain on the register.
An interim suspension order was also imposed to cover the appeal period.