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Ifenyinwa Chizube Ndulue-Nonso began working in the specialist role of Band 6 rotational dietitian at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust on 19 February 2024, having claimed in her application to know about a wide range of health conditions, including cancer, eating disorders and gastrointestinal diseases. However, a misconduct tribunal has found this painted a "misleading" picture and has struck her off due to her "deplorable" conduct, after it emerged that she did not even know what coeliac disease is or what the gallbladder does. The Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service panel said: "The registrant was aware when she wrote and submitted her application that she did not have this knowledge and experience. In stating that she had in-depth knowledge and skills, she intended to give a misleading impression of her skills and abilities with a view to obtaining a role which required a high level of knowledge and skill." It added: "The panel found that the registrant's dishonesty had been premeditated and sustained. It was conduct that would be considered deplorable by fellow practitioners." Colleagues giving evidence at the hearing outlined how they became increasingly concerned as Ms Ndulue-Nonso's limited experience emerged.

The panel heard that Lorna Haywood, a Band 7 critical care dietetic clinical lead, had recorded in a supervision log just three days after Ms Ndulue-Nonso began her role: "[She] was unsure what came after the stomach, with some prompting was able to say the intestine, when asked if it was the small or large intestine, stated it was the large intestine." Referring to this in her witness statement, Ms Haywood said: "This is incorrect, which I found extremely concerning as this is basic anatomy, which is fundamental to the role of dietitian." Another colleague gave evidence of his "significant" concerns with Ms Ndulue-Nonso's knowledge. The hearing was told that Curtis Roberts, Senior Specialist Dietitian, recorded that she was "unable to tell him about coeliac disease, eating disorders, cancer, irritable bowel syndrome or gastro-intestinal disease and surgery for it". Giving evidence at the hearing, Ms Ndulue-Nonso was asked what the gallbladder does and responded incorrectly that it is "part of the kidney, where urine is stored". The panel found that Ms Ndulue-Nonso engaged in "serious" dishonesty - repeatedly and over a long period of time, with a high risk of repetition, which could harm the public.

A striking off order is considered appropriate in cases of "serious, persistent, deliberate or reckless acts which include dishonesty", and which involve a lack of insight, repeated misconduct and lack of remediation. The panel concluded: "All of the criteria for a striking off order were applicable in this case. The public is entitled to expect members of the profession to behave with decency, honesty, and integrity. "In the panel's judgement, the registrant's misconduct was so serious as to be incompatible with her remaining on the register. The panel concluded that a striking off order was required to protect the public, declare and uphold proper standards of behaviour, and maintain confidence in the profession and its regulator. The panel concluded that the registrant's behaviour was wholly unacceptable and was incompatible with registration."