An NHS nurse who made offensive social media comments including “stop the boats” and “deport them all” has been suspended for six months. Tina Patricia Orbell was found guilty of misconduct by a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) panel after sharing and commenting on material containing discriminatory language.
Details of the Case
Orbell worked as a bank nurse in the emergency department at University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. Between July 2024 and February 2025, she shared and commented on posts described as containing “inflammatory, discriminatory and hostile language.” The NMC received referrals from three members of the public and three former colleagues in early 2025.
One post she shared read: “Due to the red weather warning Starmer has asked the illegals to use the channel tunnel.” Under a photo of a crowd waving Union 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 comment, she wrote “deport them all.”
NMC Findings and Sanction
The NMC panel found the posts “contained offensive, derogatory and discriminatory language towards people of different races, religions and immigration statuses.” Orbell deleted her Facebook and Instagram accounts after the referrals. She expressed remorse and stated she felt “deep shame and regret,” but also tried to minimise her culpability by claiming she was not “IT savvy” and misunderstood how social media works.
The panel imposed a six-month suspension order and an 18-month interim suspension order. Orbell did not provide written representations regarding her sanction but stated she had retired and did not intend to return to the profession.
