A NURSE who took photographs of a patient with learning difficulties who was sitting on the toilet at Basildon Hospital has been cautioned by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Sherril Gurley, 45, used her mobile phone to snap the woman, in her 50s, while she was on the loo at the hospital's Linford Ward.

Yesterday, the Nursing and Midwifery Council heard Gurley then took a photo of the patient's exposed bottom as she walked back to her chair.

Gurley admitted giving her phone number to the patient a short while later because she was "fond of her" and "wanted to keep in touch".

The hearing also heard how the nurse demonstrated other inappropriate behaviour - including showing a colleague a picture of her husband's genitals and laughing about the size of an elderly patient's penis.

Panel chairman Lavinia Ness blasted the nurse for her "wholly inappropriate behaviour", but despite the charges, let her off with a caution that will remain on her record for two years.

Mrs Ness said: "We accept that she now realises that taking photographs of patients in hospital is wholly inappropriate behaviour as a nurse.

"There has been an expression of regret and apology.

"The registrant has a good history in her work and we accept that she has taken corrective steps in understanding the importance of the code of conduct and the need to observe appropriate professional boundaries.

"There was no direct or indirect harm to the patients."

The hearing also heard from Gurley's colleague at Basildon Hospital, Sandra Cooper, who told the panel Gurley laughed about an elderly patient's genitals during a night shift in June 2006.

Ms Cooper said: "She said how small they were. I was embarrassed."

Gurley, who lives in Chadwell Heath, near Romford, was found guilty of taking two photographs of Patient A on her mobile phone on the night of June 14, 2006.

She was also found guilty of inappropriately providing Patient A with her phone number, making inappropriate comments on the size of an elderly patient's genitals and inappropriately showing a colleague a photograph of male genitals.