A former NHS doctor, Daniel Hay, has been implicated in a damning report for leaving women suffering 'severe physical harm' due to unnecessary surgeries. Mr. Hay, a consultant gynaecologist who joined the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust in 2005, operated on hundreds of women before his retirement in 2020 on health grounds.

Concerns regarding Mr. Hay's clinical practices were first raised by consultants, theatre staff, and managers as early as 2017. A comprehensive review, initiated in 2020 to scrutinize his care between 2015 and 2018, this week unveiled significant failings in how he treated over 100 women and how his actions were managed by the trust. The review, commissioned by the Gynaecology Review Steering Group, which included officials from NHS England, the trust, and the Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group, found that many patients' mental health had been 'adversely affected'.

Among the serious issues identified were instances where women underwent hysterectomies—a surgical procedure involving the removal of the womb—with some patients reportedly made to feel as if it was their 'only option', despite potentially less invasive alternatives being available. Patient testimonies highlighted Mr. Hay's 'erratic' manner; one woman recounted how, after expressing a desire for her bleeding to stop, he 'immediately got his diary out and said, “You can have a hysterectomy in April”'. Another patient expressed shock when, upon asking why an open hysterectomy was necessary instead of a keyhole approach, Mr. Hay replied, 'I like slicing'.

Out of 325 women whose care was meticulously examined, 48 cases were rated 'red' for 'major' concerns, while 68 received an 'amber' rating for 'some' concerns, with 209 cases graded 'green'. The report revealed that two women suffered 'severe physical harm' and three experienced 'moderate' physical harm. It was only through 'the support of good colleagues' and 'good fortune' that further harm was averted, according to the panel's findings. A prior assessment conducted in 2019 had already reviewed 58 separate women treated by Mr. Hay.

The report ultimately concluded that the consultant 'lacked clinical judgment' and 'took shortcuts in his clinical assessment of patients'. It also noted an 'increasing willingness to take risks' over time. His record-keeping was deemed inadequate, and his communication with patients was often dismissive. One woman was offered a hysterectomy after a mere 10-minute consultation for heavy menstrual bleeding, without any discussion of scans or alternative treatments. Another patient expressed profound self-blame, stating, 'Emotionally I struggle every single day and blame myself for not being strong enough to reject the treatment I was being told was the only option for me.'

In response to the findings, Dr. Gis Robinson, executive chief medical officer for the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, issued an 'unreserved apology' to the affected women, acknowledging that the care received was 'far below the standards we expect'. The trust has since implemented important changes, including clearer consent procedures, enhanced clinical oversight to identify issues more quickly, and improved post-procedure reviews for women. They have committed to closely monitoring and reviewing these changes to ensure their effectiveness and to inform future stages of the review.

The report also put forth multiple recommendations for the NHS trust, advocating that consultants should not work in isolation at clinics and that robust measures should be established to identify poorly performing clinicians. Furthermore, it recommended a review of Mr. Hay's patients from before 2015.

Daniel Hay, who is in his 60s and from Alfreton in Derbyshire, relinquished his medical license in July 2021 following his retirement. He is currently under investigation by Derbyshire Police and was interviewed under caution earlier this year. A police spokesperson noted the 'complex nature of the case' has prolonged inquiries, assuring that contact is maintained with those affected.