After kissing a coworker on the lips while they were both donning face masks and placing an oxygen hose on her breasts, a paramedic was placed on administrative leave.
When Michael Walters grabbed the back of his more junior ambulance service employee’s head and drew her in for a kiss, the employee described feeling “physically nauseous.”
Later, he twice placed a powered oxygen hose on her breasts taken from an ambulance, leaving her “mortified, humiliated, belittled and embarrassed.”
A conduct and competence committee of the health and care professions tribunal service placed Mr. Walters, who has worked for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust for 37 years, on administrative leave for six months.
The female employee had visited Mr. Walters at the Bath ambulance station in Somerset, it was reported, to demonstrate how to use a powered respirator cover and face piece.
Three months later, a complaint was filed regarding the two occurrences from that day.
The woman testified during the disciplinary process that one of her responsibilities was to drive the Trust car to various places to fit-test the remaining few individuals.
Michael Walters from Bath station had not yet undergone a fit-test, so I called Bath station to find out if he had reported for duty.
A coworker answered and said that Mike would be there since he had paperwork to finish and the vehicle to be restocked.
Mike had just experienced a cardiac arrest and was on duty.
He was in the crew room when I got there.
In the crew room, where there were two other persons present, I put up the testing apparatus.
I went over the safety precautions with him, and when he successfully put the mask on, he walked over to me, grabbed the back of my head, and kissed me while holding the back of my head.
“This took me by surprise, so I retreated.” He began to chuckle because he found this amusing, but I laughed instead because I had no idea what to say or do in response to this.
“While maintaining my professionalism, I continued the test” (although I felt intimidated and disgusted with his actions).
I had to fetch a drink of water from the kitchen since I felt physically ill.
She felt “violated and horrified that he had entered her personal space,” according to the testimony given to the tribunal, but she refrained from speaking up at the time because she was a less senior employee and “did not want to be that person.”
About a week after the incident, she claimed, she made the decision to file a formal report because she was still experiencing nightmares about it.
She stated to the EMS service’s investigation about the second occurrence that she wanted to return to station as soon as possible.
I knew I needed to inquire about his comfort level when using the powered hood.
He said he required me to walk through it with him when I hesitantly asked.
He approached me while still holding the hose, twice pressing it against my right breast before laughing and yanking it away.
I was horrified, repulsed, humiliated, and disgusted by his behavior.
I wanted to shout in his face because I couldn’t believe he would misuse his authority yet another time.
“I cried all the way back, honestly… My personal space was invaded, and I felt unclean.
I was so mad with myself and disappointed in myself for not speaking out.
Mr. Walters asserted during cross-examination that the female coworker was “lying” about both incidents and that she was “someone who is quite needy and wants attention.”
He called the accusations “total rubbish,” but the tribunal determined that both occurrences occurred as the female worker claimed.
It stated in its conclusion that “[Mr Walter’s] wrongdoing, which targeted a less senior employee, was significant.
“His actions included unwanted sexual contact, which significantly affected [the victim].
He was placed on leave for a year.