Surgeon moved hospitals while accused of rape

Salil Korambayil is serving a 14-year prison sentence for raping two women and he received a further 12 months in August for misuse of patient data

A trainee surgeon who was suspended from North Devon District Hospital following a sexual assault allegation went to work in a neighbouring county and raped another woman.

In 2023, Salil Korambayil, 33, was jailed for 14 years for raping two women and given a further 12 months for misuse of patient data last month.

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said it suspended Korambayil in September 2020 after it learnt of a rape allegation.

A month later he rotated to the Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust (RCHT) in Truro which said it had been aware of an allegation and a "full set of employment checks were carried out and satisfied when Dr Korambayil transferred".

'Concern over health records'

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said "he never returned to work for the trust" after he was suspended as his rotation ended on 6 October when he transferred to Cornwall on a pre-planned rotation.

It said: "We also notified the police, the GMC [General Medical Council], and the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust."

The RCHT told the BBC when Korambayil joined the trust he had been "designated a responsible officer to monitor and evaluate his fitness to practice throughout his employment".

It said: "The police file was closed soon after Dr Korambayil’s transfer to the Royal Cornwall Hospitals, due to insufficient evidence at that time, and no further formal concerns were raised until March 2021 when one of his victims raised a concern about inappropriate access to health records."

The BBC has been made aware of complaints by hospital staff about Korambayil before March 2021, which included one of inappropriate touching and others around inappropriate messaging.

Hospital trusts 'appalled'

In May 2021 the General Medical Council interim suspended Korambayil from the medical register.

In 2023 Korambayil was convicted and jailed for raping two women in their Devon and Cornwall homes after he pursued them online.

The trial heard how he had targeted women over a sustained period and exercised power over them, abusing his position of trust.

In August 2024 he admitted three charges related to accessing patient records without authorisation at hospitals in Truro and Barnstaple.

After both sentences could be reported, statements from the hospital trusts said they were "appalled" by Korambayil's actions and welcomed the sentences for both the rapes and data breaches.

The RCHT said: "Our focus throughout has been on being open and transparent and supporting the victims, both those we are aware of and anymore that come to light."

A spokesperson for NHS England South West said: "We are so sorry for the harm caused by Salil Korambayil’s crimes - his abuse of his position of trust and authority was completely abhorrent.

"All NHS organisations involved in the case are now reviewing whether there are any learnings or practical steps that could help prevent anything like this happening again."

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust commissioned an external review into its handling of Korambayil, which is due to be published on Monday.

Korambayil has applied for leave to appeal the rape convictions.

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