Nursing and Midwifery Council determination — substantive hearing
NMC strikes off nurse Adam Culverwell convicted of sexual offences against patient in his care
The Nursing and Midwifery Council has struck mental health nurse Adam Culverwell off its register after he was convicted of sexual activity offences against a vulnerable patient in his care and sentenced to seven years in prison.
MedicWatch editorial · Published 16 July 2026 · Updated 18 July 2026
Erasure (struck off the register)
Added to MedicWatch: 18 July 2026Report a correction
What does “struck off the register” mean?
Being struck off (the regulator calls this "erasure") removes the practitioner from the register. They are no longer permitted to practise this profession in the UK. Erasure can be reviewed after a minimum of five years, but is otherwise indefinite.
Concerning Adam Culverwell, nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Council 10D1374E).
Decision date: 16 July 2026 · Hearing started 16 July 2026
In plain English
The NMC's Fitness to Practise Committee found that mental health nurse Adam Culverwell's fitness to practise was impaired after he was convicted at Bournemouth Crown Court of sexual activity offences against a vulnerable patient in his care, for which he was sentenced to seven years in prison. On 16 July 2026 the panel imposed a striking-off order, removing him from the register, with an 18-month interim suspension in case of appeal.
Charges
That he, a registered nurse, was convicted on 14 April 2025 at Bournemouth Crown Court of: a) care worker engage in sexual activity with mentally disordered female – penetration x 2; b) care worker cause/incite sexual activity with mentally disordered person – no penetration x 1; c) care worker engage in sexual activity with mentally disordered female – no penetration x 1; d) care worker engage in sexual activity with mentally disordered female – penetration x 8; and that in light of the above his fitness to practise is impaired by reason of his convictions. Charges 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d found proved by way of the certificates of conviction.
Findings
At a Fitness to Practise Committee substantive meeting on 16 July 2026, the panel found the charges proved by the certificates of conviction under Rule 31. The offences concerned Patient A, a vulnerable patient with several mental health conditions who was under Mr Culverwell's care while he was employed as a Community Psychiatric Nurse by Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment and placed on the sex offenders register for life. The panel found that Patient A was put at risk and caused emotional and psychological harm, that Mr Culverwell exploited his position and crossed professional boundaries, and that he had shown no insight, remorse or engagement with the proceedings. It found his fitness to practise currently impaired on public protection and public interest grounds, imposed a striking-off order, and imposed an 18-month interim suspension order to cover any appeal period.
Mitigating and aggravating factors
Mitigating factors
The panel was of the view that there are no mitigating factors in this case.
Aggravating factors
Vulnerability of the person receiving care; predatory behaviour towards a particularly vulnerable patient; evidence of deep-seated attitudinal issues; no remorse for his conduct; sentence of seven years imprisonment and life on the sex offenders register; abuse of a position of trust; a pattern of misconduct over a period of time; dishonesty in giving evidence; failure to engage with NMC proceedings; absence of insight.
Source
All facts on this page are drawn from the publicly published Nursing and Midwifery Council determination linked below. MedicWatch does not editorialise the regulator’s findings.
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