- Sidharth Nair denied raping the woman at Whiston Hospital on January 30
A healthcare assistant appeared in court today accused of raping a woman patient at an NHS hospital.
Sidharth Nair denied raping the woman at Whiston Hospital in Prescot, Merseyside last month.
The 28-year-old, of Everton, Liverpool, also denied three other sexual offences involving the same woman on the same date.
At Liverpool Crown Court he told a judge: ‘I didn’t do it.’
Nair pleaded not guilty to raping the woman, assaulting her by penetration and two sexual assaults.
Judge Anil Murray fixed a date for his trial in July, estimated to last five days.
He remanded Nair, who appeared via video link from prison, in custody.
Nair was charged following reports that a woman was raped at Whiston Hospital on the evening of January 30, Merseyside Police previously said.
At the time, Detective Chief Inspector Allison Woods said: ‘We understand how shocking incidents of this nature are and I want the public to be reassured it will be thoroughly investigated.
‘The woman is being supported by specially trained officers and our enquiries remain ongoing.’
Now part of Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, there has been a hospital on the site since 1843.
The current Whiston Hospital was officially opened by the Countess of Wessex in 2013 following a £300million private finance initiative rebuild.
The trust – which also operates St Helens Hospital – serves a population of over 600,000 with a combined workforce of around 9,000.
According to its website it also provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries, to more than four million people across Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.
Healthcare assistants perform a multitude of roles across the NHS helping clinical staff to care for patients and perform observations.
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William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
