Nurse suspended over offensive social media posts

A Birmingham NHS nurse has been suspended for six months after she made a series of offensive social media comments, including "stop the boats" and "deport them all".

Tina Patricia Orbell was found guilty of misconduct by a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) misconduct panel after she shared and commented on the material.

At the time, she was working as a bank nurse in the emergency department at University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

The judgment said that in early 2025, the NMC received referrals from three members of the public and three former colleagues of Orbell - who said she felt "deep shame" - raising concerns regarding material she shared and commented on.

The posts, which were shared and commented on between July 2024 and February 2025, were reported as containing "inflammatory, discriminatory and hostile language".

After the referrals, Orbell deleted her Facebook and Instagram accounts, the ruling said.

One post shared online by the nurse read: "Due to the red weather warning Starmer has asked the illegals to use the channel tunnel."

The panel heard that under a photo of a crowd waving union jack and England flags, she wrote: "Stop the boats! I predicted that eventually the British would come together and fight back. This government is corrupt through and through! We deserve better."

In another, she commented "deport them all".

In a statement regarding Orbell's case, the NMC said the nurse's conduct "is capable of causing members of the public to believe they could experience less favourable treatment".

It said that while Orbell had shown insight into her conduct, she also tried to minimise her culpability by stating she was not "IT savvy" and had a misunderstanding as to "how social media works".

The nurse was said to have apologised and expressed remorse for her behaviour, and stated in an employment form that she felt "deep shame and regret" over them.

The panel found the posts by Orbell "contained offensive, derogatory and discriminatory language towards people of different races, religions and immigration statuses".

The panel made a suspension order for a period of six months and imposed an interim suspension order for a period of 18 months.

It said the nurse did not provide written representations with regard to her sanction, but did state she had retired and did not intend to return to the profession.

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.