Surgeon Offered Womb Removals In 'minutes' Without Proper Examination, Women Say

A erstwhile NHS gynaecologist's risky practices and shortcuts contributed to women suffering terrible beingness harm, a long-awaited study into his attraction has found.

Daniel Hay joined nan University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB) NHS Foundation Trust successful 2005, and operated connected hundreds of women earlier retiring successful 2020.

A study - which scrutinised Mr Hay's attraction betwixt 2015 and 2018 - was commissioned aft concerns were raised by colleagues, and recovered failings successful his practices, really he was managed and added only "good luck prevented further harm".

After publication of nan study connected Wednesday, nan NHS spot said it was "truly sorry" to nan women who received attraction "below nan standards expected".

The study was commissioned by nan Gynaecology Review Steering Group, which included representations from NHS England, UHDB, and nan Derby and Derbyshire objective commissioning group.

As portion of nan report, nan sheet contacted 325 women who had been treated by Mr Hay betwixt 2015 and 2018, asking them to stock their experiences.

In summation to nan 325 patients, 58 women had already been reviewed successful an earlier appraisal carried retired successful 2019.

In Wednesday's report, nan steering group sheet identified 2 women arsenic suffering "severe beingness harm", pinch 3 sustaining "moderate beingness harm" nether Mr Hay's care.

Among nan issues identified were women who had a hysterectomy - a surgical process that removes nan womb - pinch immoderate patients made to consciousness for illustration it was their "only option" erstwhile little invasive options whitethorn person been available.

This "adversely affected" nan intelligence wellness of women who dreamed of starting families but were incapable to do so, affecting their relationships and jobs.

The study besides recovered Mr Hay "demonstrated mediocre objective practice", "failed to recognise imaginable risks", while nan NHS spot that employed him "somehow allowed this to proceed until he yet retired owed to sick health".

His consent processes - successful which patients should beryllium capable to make informed decisions complete room - were poor, his record-keeping was inadequate, and his connection pinch patients was often dismissive, nan study added.

Concerns astir Mr Hay were raised by consultants, theatre unit and managers arsenic early arsenic 2017-18, but nan sheet said it was "surprised" those unit members were not interviewed by nan spot until 2022 - immoderate 5 years later.

The study published aggregate testimonies from women, who were not named. They described being rushed into having hysterectomies.

• One female was being treated by Mr Hay for dense menstrual bleeding, and was offered a hysterectomy aft a 10-minute consultation pinch nary scan aliases alternatives discussed, nan study said. She said nan room near her successful pain, suffering worry and slump
• Another female felt she was not fixed immoderate action different than to person a hysterectomy - moreover though location was nary introspection aliases scan investigation. She said: "Was specified a drastic awesome cognition nan only action I had?"
• One female recovered Mr Hay to beryllium "erratic". She told nan panel: "I retrieve Mr Hay asking, 'what do you want?' 'I conscionable want nan bleeding to stop' was my reply. He instantly sewage his diary retired and told maine 'you tin person a hysterectomy successful April'
• One diligent asked why she had to person an unfastened hysterectomy, alternatively than via a keyhole approach, and was astounded erstwhile Mr Hay answered "I for illustration slicing", nan study said
• Meanwhile, different diligent added: "I will ne'er group ft successful an NHS infirmary again. If my limb were hanging off, I would amputate it myself."

Of nan 325 women whose attraction was scrutinised, nan sheet graded each lawsuit reddish - for awesome concerns - amber for immoderate concerns, aliases greenish - successful which nary were identified.

In total, 48 cases were rated red, 68 amber and 209 green, though nan reappraisal did not specify nan nonstop quality of nan concerns.

The sheet recovered it was only because of "the support of bully colleagues" and bully fortune" that further harm was prevented from being caused.

Mr Hay, who is successful his 60s and from Alfreton successful Derbyshire, is presently being investigated by Derbyshire Police and was interviewed nether be aware earlier this year.

He said to officers astir nan procedures he carried retired astatine Royal Derby Hospital and Ripley Hospital.

A constabulary spokesperson said: "Due to nan analyzable quality of nan case, inquiries person taken time, however, passim nan investigation we person remained successful adjacent interaction pinch those affected and will proceed to do truthful arsenic nan investigation continues."

Mr Hay has not officially commented connected nan matter for much than 4 years.

His connection successful July 2021 said: "I apologise to nan women affected by nan NHS investigation. I americium co-operating pinch nan investigation, however, owed to my ongoing intelligence wellness issues, I inquire that you please respect my privateness astatine this time."

The Medical Defence Union, connected Mr Hay's behalf, did not wish to remark erstwhile approached by nan BBC.

Following nan report, a bid of recommendations were made to nan trust, including introducing measures to "identify poorly performing clinicians", that nary advisor should activity successful isolation, and that attending multidisciplinary squad meetings should beryllium mandatory for clinicians.

It besides called connected nan spot to put successful much gynaecological support for women nether its care.

Another proposal was for nan spot to reappraisal Mr Hay's attraction of women earlier 2015, which has now been accepted pinch nan purpose of starting successful nan autumn.

Once ready, nan spot will interaction women who autumn wrong nan scope of nan "Phase 2" reappraisal to induce them to return part.

A 2nd report, which reviewed governance astatine nan UHDB spot astatine nan time, was published alongside nan awesome reappraisal into Mr Hay's care.

It said Mr Hay's attraction from 2012 should besides beryllium reviewed.

Dr Gis Robinson, executive main aesculapian serviceman astatine nan NHS trust, said: "We want to reiterate our unreserved apologies to nan women who received attraction from Mr Hay that was acold beneath nan standards expected.

"Following nan study we made important changes, pinch clearer consent procedures and enhanced objective oversight truthful immoderate issues pinch attraction tin beryllium identified much quickly, and improved post-procedure reviews for women.

"We will proceed to intimately show and reappraisal these to guarantee they are effective and afloat integrated, and usage our learning to support and pass nan adjacent shape of nan review."

By Rob Sissons, East Midlands wellness correspondent

The study is afloat of numbers but, of course, down nan numbers are nan existent lives of women who opportunity their relationships person been ruined done mediocre care.

I person spoken to 2 women progressive successful nan reappraisal who, to immoderate extent, blasted themselves for going on pinch what Mr Hay said. Both felt dismissed and not listened to, but of course, they put their spot successful a surgeon successful 1 of nan astir individual and delicate areas of medicine, gynaecology.

In ample organisations - nan NHS is nan country's biggest employer - things will spell wrong, but nan mobility is ever are nan systems and processes successful spot robust capable to prime up mediocre performance, and do guidance do capable erstwhile problems are exposed and colleagues speak out? In nan Hay case, it is now evident much could and should person been done.

More cases are now going to beryllium reviewed. The scrutiny of this NHS consultant's activity and his employer's handling of it goes on.