A NURSE exposed her breasts and performed oral sex on a patient to provide "emotional support", a tribunal heard.

Julie Porthouse admitted "muddying the water with boundaries" with the man but claimed she was worried about him after a former patient of hers committed suicide.

3 Julie Porthouse allegedly bared her breasts to the patient and performed oral sex on him Credit: Array

She denied claims she bared her breasts, left an earring in his bedroom and showed off a tattoo on her lower back after visiting the patient at home.

The community psychiatric nurse also said she didn't give the man oral sex during the four-month affair.

Porthouse was working for Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust at the time of the alleged affair between May 2012 and September 2012.

3 The NMC heard that Porthouse was worried as she had a previous patient commit suicide Credit: Alamy

She told The Nursing and Midwifery Council she had "excessive contact" with the patient because she wanted to provide him with enough support after the loss of his father.

There were also similarities between the man and her former patient who had committed suicide, the tribunal heard.

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She said: "I did muddy the water with boundaries, I do agree. I can't sit here and say that I didn't because I did."

The nurse explained she wanted to "empower" the patient.

Rebecca Richardson, for the NMC, asked: "Did that empowerment extend to wanting to make him feel attractive?"

Porthouse replied: "No, our relationship was never on a sexual level."

I did muddy the water with boundaries, I do agree. I can't sit here and say that I didn't because I did Julie Porthouse

Asked about a visit she made to the patient's home Ms Richardson continued: "He was tense and you were going to help him relax. This was in the context of ongoing discussion about attraction.

"This progressed to the bedroom.

"This went further, you masturbated him and gave him oral sex. You also exposed your breasts and that's how he became aware that you had a tattoo on your lower back.

"That's also how you left an earring, that's how it came to be in his bedroom."

Porthouse said: "That's not true."

3 The nurse denies having a four-month affair with the patient Credit: Array

The tribunal heard that the nurse wept when she was accused of having an affair with the man by manager Heather Meek.

Another colleague, Merlina Spring, then asked to speak to her.

Porthouse said: "She just kept repeating 'it's not good, it's not good'.

"She said, 'you know everybody is talking about your dress'.

"She said, 'there's gossip in the team that you are having an affair'.

"I was totally shocked. I said, 'You think all this time I have been out having an affair? Why? Because you couldn't see where I am and my dress style has improved?

"I said something along the lines of 'that's quite slanderous'."

He was tense and you were going to help him relax...this went further, you masturbated him and gave him oral sex. You also exposed your breasts and that's how he became aware that you had a tattoo on your lower back. Rebecca Richardson, for the NMC

When the nurse was told to cancel her next appointment with the patient, Porthouse said she was worried about him because his father had passed away.

She was then confronted by staff, who asked her if she was having an affair with the patient referred to as Service User A.

Describing the meeting, Porthouse said: "I was sitting there thinking what's all about? I come in the room, sit down and the next thing I know she's asking me 'are you having a sexual relationship with Service User A?'

"I just burst into tears."

Porthouse admits excessive contact with the service user, but denies all other charges.

The hearing continues.

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