Police conclude review into doctor assaults

The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust oversees the Royal Stoke University Hospital, among others

A doctor could be charged with sexual assault on patients at two NHS trusts, including children, as part of an ongoing investigation by Staffordshire Police, according to the Sunday Times.

On Saturday evening, the force said a patient review had ended - it was part of a three-and-a-half-year investigation and saw officers looking into records at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust and Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust.

A man, now 38 and from the West Midlands area, was arrested in December 2021 and was released under investigation.

Both NHS trusts said he had previously worked at Royal Stoke University Hospital, and Russells Hall Hospital, but was no longer employed at either.

The Sunday Times also reported that the review considered any children he may have examined, in addition to young adults up to the age of 25 and vulnerable adults.

Staffordshire Police added the investigation continued, and it was working to enable a charge to be made. The two trusts have hospitals in Dudley, Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford.

The man previously worked at Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley

"For the last three and a half years we have been investigating allegations of sexual assaults at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust and Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust," a statement released on Saturday evening said.

"This is an extremely complex investigation which is being carried out by a dedicated team of detectives. We have finished our review of patient records in the two trusts.

"Working closely with a number of partners, the team have put robust safeguarding measures in place to protect the public while they work through their extensive enquiries.

"We have received written advice from the CPS on submission of a case file, and all agencies continue to work collaboratively to enable a final charging decision to be made."

The force added that a dedicated family liaison officer was supporting the victims, who were being "kept fully updated".

Both NHS groups said they were working closely with Staffordshire Police.

The Dudley Group said its inquiry regarded concerns about the appropriateness of care provided by an individual who worked in the NHS and previously worked at Russells Hall Hospital and Royal Stoke Hospital.

It added that it had written to a number of families about the care they or a family member had received and had advised them to speak to police.

The North Midlands trust also said the police's concerns about the appropriateness of care regarded an individual who had previously worked at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

The trust added that it had also written to families and had advised them to speak to Staffordshire Police.

The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust oversees the Royal Stoke University Hospital, County Hospital, Staffordshire Children's Hospital at Royal Stoke and Community Diagnostic Centre.

Meanwhile the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust oversees three hospital sites at Russells Hall Hospital, Guest Outpatient Centre in Dudley and Corbett Outpatient Centre in Stourbridge.