A married NHS doctor who had sex with a nurse in the middle of an operation is set to return to Britain to re-start his medical career.

Pakistani national Dr Suhail Anjum, 44, was dismissed from his role at Tameside General Hospital in Greater Manchester following an investigation after being caught in a "compromising position" with a nurse in 2023.

Despite leaving a patient on the operating table for around eight minutes, the consultant anaesthetist avoided sanctions after the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service found him to be at "low risk" of repeating the misconduct.

Following his dismissal, Dr Anjum returned to Pakistan, after the incident left him feeling "shame and guilt".

A married NHS doctor who had sex with a nurse in the middle of an operation is set to return to Britain (file photo)

However, the final stage of a tribunal on Tuesday found that a written warning saying his ability to practice medicine was not hindered should stay on the father-of-three's doctor's registration for the next two years.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service hearing in Manchester was told that Dr Anjum informed his colleagues he needed a "comfort break" before engaging in the act.

Dr Anjum said the incident took place at at time where he and his wife "were not connecting as a couple".

The 44-year-old said: "It took a toll on my personal life, my mental health and well-being, and my work at the hospital.

Dr Suhail Anjum, 44, was dismissed from his role at Tameside General Hospital in Greater Manchester following an investigation

"I have let down everybody. It was the lowest point of my career."

"I am genuinely sorry and shamed and fully recognise the seriousness of my behaviour.

"It was a one-off error and I will never repeat this behaviour.

"I would like to ensure the panel that it will not happen again but that does not take away the guilt and embarrassment.

"I only have myself to blame."

Panel chair Rebecca Miller concluded that the Pakistani national had "engaged in sexual activity within a public workplace setting, whilst on duty, in the middle of an operation."

Ms Miller noted that Dr Anjum had harmed the medical profession's reputation and "left a vulnerable patient unattended in the middle of an operation and placed his own interests before those of his patient and colleagues".

Despite the breach, the panel decided the incident was "a momentary lapse of judgement rather than a sustained pattern of behaviour."

They also added that Dr Anjum had "shown genuine remorse" and the patient did not suffer as a result of his actions.

However, the panel chair affirmed that a public warning was needed in order to "ensure that public confidence is maintained in the profession and the regulatory system".

Dr Anjum first moved to Britain in 2011 after qualifying as a doctor in Pakistan in 2004.

Before starting his work at Tameside General Hospital in 2015, the 44-year-old held positions at various hospitals in Dartford, Bristol and Milton Keynes.