Review of assault reports at NHS trusts ends, police say
Three-and-a-half-year examination of records at University Hospitals of North Midlands and Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust concludes; charging decision pending.
Staffordshire Police said Saturday evening that a three-and-a-half-year investigation into allegations of sexual assaults at two NHS trusts has ended its review of patient records. The force said it completed the records review at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust and the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust and that the inquiry continues to unfold, with a final charging decision still to be determined. A 38-year-old man from the West Midlands area who was arrested in December 2021 has been released under investigation as the investigation progresses.
The police described the review as extremely complex and conducted by a dedicated team of detectives. They said they have finished reviewing patient records across the two trusts and will continue to work with partners to safeguard the public while inquiries proceed. The investigation has involved coordinating with the Crown Prosecution Service, which has provided written advice on the submission of a case file, and authorities said all agencies are working collaboratively to enable a final charging decision. A dedicated family liaison officer is supporting the victims and keeping them fully updated as the inquiry continues.
The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust operates Royal Stoke University Hospital, County Hospital, Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke, and the Community Diagnostic Centre. The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust runs three hospital sites: Russells Hall Hospital, the Guest Outpatient Centre in Dudley, and the Corbett Outpatient Centre in Stourbridge. The two trusts are located in Dudley, Stoke-on-Trent, and Stafford, encompassing several major facilities that provide acute and community services in the region.
During the course of the investigation, police said they have implemented robust safeguarding measures to protect the public while inquiries proceed. The review’s completion marks a significant milestone in the broader inquiry, but authorities emphasized that the investigation remains active and continues to progress as new information is examined. Victims and their families have been offered ongoing support through the family liaison arrangement, and investigators will provide further updates as appropriate.