Hundreds of doctors and nurses allowed to practice after sexual assault and rape allegations

Hundreds of doctors and Nurse Free to practice medicine despite being accused of serious crime Sexual Assault and Rape Over the past six years, The Independent Can reveal.

Between 2018 and 2024, some 248 doctors face charges of rape, sexual assault or attempted rape According to the latest data, their licenses will not be revoked. General Medical Council (GMC).

Scandal Nursing and Midwifery Council Between 2019 and 2024, the NMC had more than 400 nurses practising without restriction after facing allegations of sexual offences.

The shocking figures, obtained via a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, raise questions about the Decisions of the two major UK health regulators after a series of revelations go through The Independent.

Late last month, Health Secretary Wes Streeting met with NMC chairman Sir David Warren to discuss concerns raised by the publication’s reporting.

The Independent Can reveal:

If you have been affected by this story please email rebecca.thomas@independent.co.uk or tara.cobham@independent.co.uk

‘Very disturbing’

Dr Becky Cox, a GP and founder of Surviving in Scrubs, a group for doctors who have been assaulted at work, told The Independent: “We are deeply concerned that these data indicate that only a small percentage of physicians accused of sexual assault receive orders temporarily restricting their practice pending investigation and court trial.

“We strongly encourage the GMC to ensure appropriate steps are taken to protect the safety of patients, staff and the public during its investigation.”

The FOI data shows the number of doctors and nurses each year who are charged but not suspended or restricted. The data does not specify how long they have been practising under those conditions.

If the HA deems there is sufficient evidence, the doctor’s licence to practise may be suspended and the independent Medical Practitioners Tribunal (MPTS) will impose sanctions, including suspension.

For nurses, the NMC can recommend to its Competence to Practise Review Panel that an interim order be made.

Helen Hughes, chief executive of the charity Patient Safety Learning, said the figures were “deeply disturbing” from a patient and staff safety perspective.

“Patients often face significant power imbalances in healthcare,” she said. “When serious allegations are made against healthcare professionals, it is imperative that robust procedures are in place to protect both healthcare professionals and patients during the investigation.”

Jacob Lanter, chief executive of the National Voice of the Union of Health and Social Care Charities, said of the figures: “These are very serious allegations and in circumstances like these the community should have every reason to expect NHS leaders and regulators to use the full range of their powers to prioritise patient safety whilst conducting their investigations.”

The figures follow a series of reports The Independent It revealed a “toxic” culture within the NMC that left nurses accused of sexual assault and domestic violence unchecked.

Practice conditions

The data showed that when doctors received interim orders, most were still not suspended. Instead, they were imposed conditions.

James Gilbert, a transplant surgeon at Oxford, has been suspended for eight months after a fitness to practise hearing found he had sexually harassed female colleagues, made racist comments and abused his position. His three victims were all trainee doctors.

The surgeon’s licence had previously been subject to temporary restrictions, but these only required him to tell the GMC where he worked and did not restrict his ability to work.

In another case, the General Medical Council (GMC) was taken to the High Court by its regulator, the Professional Standards Agency (PSA), over an unduly lenient six-month suspension imposed on a doctor accused of having a sexual relationship with a vulnerable patient.

The PSA argued that the GMC had failed to take into account the vulnerability of the patient and the High Court ordered a further six-month suspension of the doctor.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Any form of sexual violence or inappropriate behaviour is unacceptable and must be investigated and punished appropriately.

“All health professional regulators have a statutory duty to protect the public. Both the GMC and NMC can temporarily restrict a registered person from practising while they investigate concerns. This is to ensure public safety.”

‘Take allegations seriously’

The GMC said it takes all allegations it receives seriously and, unless there are exceptional circumstances, all allegations of sexual assault, rape or attempted rape are referred to an external MPTS following investigation.

Anthony Omo, the GMC’s director of qualifications and general counsel, said: “We are very clear that there is no place for any form of sexual abuse, harassment or discrimination in the medical profession. In many cases involving sexual allegations, the GMC’s position is that such serious misconduct is incompatible with continued registration.”

He added: “Earlier this year, our updated professional standards for doctors, Good Medical Practice, came into effect which set out zero tolerance for sexual misconduct and make it clear that sexual behaviour towards patients or colleagues is unacceptable.”

Last year, the NMC stepped up its guidance for staff on preventing sexual misconduct and other forms of abuse by nurses outside of professional practice following reports The Independent .

“We take allegations of sexual misconduct very seriously, and our data shows that if an allegation is found to be true at a hearing, the most common sanction imposed by the panel is a revocation order,” the report said.