Victim criticises police after gynaecologist's death

A woman treated by a former gynaecologist who was being investigated over allegations he carried out procedures on women without their consent has criticised police for not treating the case seriously enough.

On Wednesday, Derbyshire Police confirmed Daniel Hay, whose risky practices and shortcuts were found to have contributed to women suffering physical harm, died of natural causes in hospital.

Hannah Green said Hay "should have died in jail" and "had got off scot-free", adding police should have investigated more quickly.

In a statement, the force said it was reviewing its "complex" investigation.

Hay joined University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) in 2005, and operated on hundreds of women before he retired in 2020 due to ill health.

A report commissioned by the Gynaecology Review Steering Group, scrutinised his care between 2015 and 2018, and found a number of failings.

Hay was interviewed under caution in March last year, but police dismissed six complaints against him in January, and had not made a decision on 30 remaining cases.

Green, who lives in Littleover, Derbyshire, was one of the cases reviewed where moderate harm was found to have been caused by Hay, which she said led to her being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The 36-year-old said she was appealing against the police's decision to take no further action over her complaint, and criticised the length of time their investigation has taken.

"My concern is that our opportunity for justice is no longer available to us," she said.

"The investigation and reviews have taken such a long time that, unfortunately, I think we have lost the opportunity to get justice where we should be able to.

"My view is that if the [police] investigation had been taken promptly and more seriously, then Dr Hay would have been held accountable for what happened before he died.

"I don't think Dr Hay should have died in a hospital - I think if we had gotten justice, then [he] would have died in jail, and that's what I think should have happened."

Green said it was "incredibly frustrating" that Hay was not able to face criminal proceedings, which she said had made her and other women lose trust in the authorities.

"When somebody in [his] position passes away, they are given the benefit of the doubt - an accusation just becomes that, and he will be potentially remembered and glorified as a man who did great things, when there are 400 women who would argue differently," she added.

"Mistakes happen, and I can understand that, but a lack of accountability, a lack of follow-up on that, for the hospital, the police and the system to be able to sweep this under the carpet, I think that's more concerning than the fact it happened in the first place.

"I feel that the issues that we raised were very serious, and were essentially ignored because of his professional accolades, and that I think is concerning on a much larger level.

"I wonder how any of us can engage with the medical profession, and/or the police, and trust that we will not only get not only justice but be listened to, be heard, be understood, and that's important - as women, and particularly as women in healthcare."

Derbyshire Police acknowledged its investigation has "taken a significant length of time", but said its inquiries "are undertaken in a diligent and comprehensive way".

"The investigation into these allegations is complex, involving large amounts of material and independent specialist medical professionals being consulted," it said.

"Following this latest development, a review is being undertaken into what the next steps are for the investigation, and we will continue to keep those involved updated."

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