A psychiatric nurse struck off for having sex with a patient is to appeal against the decision.

William Hill, 54, a former nurse and ward manager at Lynfield Mount Hospital, Bradford, was removed from the UK nursing register following a professional hearing in Bradford.

But he and family members say they are unhappy about the conduct of the hearing and investigations by Bradford Community Health NHS Trust.

Henry Whittingham, a retired welfare rights officer and Mr Hill's uncle by marriage, said his only fault was that he was foolish.

He said: "He's a really caring person and has a lot of support from the family. In his job, he gave a little bit more than 100 per cent and he's going to be left with nothing." He said Mr Hill had been dismissed from his job of running a nursing home in Scotland and felt he could not return to Bradford.

Mr Hill was found guilty of seven counts of professional misconduct between 1993 and 1996 by a committee of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC), which aims to uphold standards of nursing and protect the public.

The charges included having sexual intercourse with an inpatient at Lynfield Mount, continuing the relationship when she was discharged and inappropriate counselling.

The other charges related to a second woman patient and included forming a personal relationship and failure to keep records and refer her to a female member of staff when appropriate.

One member of Mr Hill's family, who did not wish to be named, said Mr Hill had hit "rock bottom" and had been ill through overwork and family bereavement at the time of the investigation.

A UKCC spokesman said Mr Hill would have to take his case to a judicial review to see whether there was a case to be heard.

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