Inquiry into Ayling abuse reports

Canterbury - 09 September 2004;Harman & Harman

High Court Judge Mrs Justice Anna Pauffley QC reported in September 2004 with her findings and recommendations following the lengthy inquiry into Clifford Ayling, the former Folkestone GP who had been convicted for sexual assault and struck off in 2000 for serious sexual offences against his patients. Such was the concern about Ayling’s behaviour and how it had gone on for so long, the Department of Health set up an independent high level inquiry.

Ayling’s history of sexual abuse and brutal treatment of gynaecological patients went back nearly 30 years. Dozens of former patients and health professionals gave evidence to the inquiry of the blatant assaults known to have been committed by Ayling and the failures of the Health Authority to respond to complaints.

To ensure that any other abusive doctors are not able to practice unchecked in the future, the report made a number of recommendations.

i. There should be a high level government inquiry into how to deal with "sexualised behaviour’ from doctors and a best practice policy set up.

ii. Patient Advice Liaison Service (PALS) should be well resourced to help patients who needed to make complaints.

iii. Complaints about doctors should be kept on file for the length of a doctor’s employment. Hospital trusts should exchange records dealing with staff behaviour and performance.

iv. Chaperones should be offered routinely by doctors undertaking intimate examinations.

Ayling’s former patients welcome these recommendations. The report paid tribute to their courage and determination in bringing the facts about Ayling into the open. Sarah Harman represented the former patients at the Inquiry