Medical hearing told of top professor’s late night visits to patient

Sir George Castledine, knighted for services to healthcare, allegedly began a “sexually motivated” relationship with the woman when she came to him for bereavement counselling after her husband died.

He lavished gifts on the vulnerable woman, visited her home late at night and referred to her as his “lover”, a panel was told.

Sir George accompanied the woman, referred to only as Patient A, on a trip to Wales and on one occasion told her he had to go to the gym or he “wouldn’t be able to make love” to her, it was alleged.

A Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) hearing was presented with a series of misconduct allegations against Sir George, dating to early 2009 when he was chief executive of the Institute of Ageing and Health for the West Midlands.

He was knighted by the Queen in 2007.

He could now be struck off for what is claimed to have been a “financially motivated” relationship with his patient.

Sir George appeared to listen intently as the case against him was opened at a hearing in central London.

He is said to have embarked on an inappropriate relationship with Patient A following the bereavement counselling between February and October 2009 despite lacking sufficient qualifications to conduct the sessions.

During this time he “failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries”, arriving at her home late at night and presenting her with a CD player and flowers, the hearing was told.

The hearing was adjourned until today.