Whanganui District Health Board has been ordered to reinstate a psychiatric nurse who was sacked after he restrained a patient at the Te Awhina inpatient psychiatric acute unit last year.
Anthony Shepherd put the patient in a bear hug after an incident and hit him in the face during a struggle, splitting his lip. He was sacked after an investigation.
Mr Shepherd took a case to the Employment Relations Authority seeking his job back and compensation.
The authority says that while Mr Shepherd did hit the patient, there was no evidence it was assault.
It ordered his reinstatement plus nearly $22,000 in lost wages and $8000 compensation for loss of dignity and injured feelings.
