What started as a stressful and uncertain time for one NHS nurse turned into an unexpected online success story.
Jessica Thorpe, a mental health nurse from the UK, didn’t plan on becoming a food influencer.
But after being wrongly suspended from her job due to a patient’s shocking and unfounded claim, life pushed her in a completely different direction.
While facing nearly two and a half years away from the career she once loved, Jessica began sharing food photos on Instagram.
What began as a creative outlet quickly blossomed into a thriving influencer platform called Slice of Jess, eventually earning her a five-figure following and an income stream to match.
A Shocking Accusation and Long Suspension
Back in 2020, Jessica was working at a secure male mental health unit under the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust.
One day in April, a male patient accused her of being in a romantic relationship with him—going so far as to claim she was pregnant with his child.
Just days later, Jessica was suspended.
Her case dragged on for 29 months, partly due to delays caused by the patient’s tragic death from a rare reaction to medication.
During that time, no solid evidence ever supported the original accusation.
Still, the shadow of the claim lingered, and she was left in limbo.
A Hobby That Turned Into a New Career
With time on her hands and no return date in sight, Jessica turned to Instagram as a hobby.
She began posting food content under the name Slice of Jess.
It wasn’t long before her account took off.
By the time of her tribunal hearing, she had more than 50,000 followers on Instagram and over 25,000 subscribers on YouTube.
She created over 580 videos in just three years, averaging about three uploads a week.
Even more impressive?
Her income from Google alone jumped from just over £4,000 in 2021 to nearly £20,000 by 2023.
Tribunal Rules in Her Favor
When Jessica was finally invited back to work in 2022, she chose to resign instead.
She explained in her resignation letter that the trust had not addressed her grievance properly and had failed to control the workplace gossip that stemmed from the false accusations.
The NHS trust tried to argue that she quit because she wanted to continue her influencer career.
But the employment tribunal disagreed.
While the timing of her resignation might have been unusual, the judge acknowledged she had every right to explore other income options during her extended suspension.
In the end, the tribunal sided with Jessica, ruling that she had been constructively dismissed.
She was awarded £24,118 in compensation.
Influencing Through Adversity
Jessica’s case highlights how workplace gossip and mismanagement can derail a person’s career, but it also shows the power of resilience and creativity.
While the trust may have viewed her Instagram success as a career switch, Jessica made it clear that her online presence began as a coping mechanism during a deeply challenging time.
In total, she has earned over £46,000 from her content since resigning—proof that sometimes, life’s unexpected turns can lead to even more fulfilling paths.