An NHS trust has faced scathing criticism from an employment tribunal for its catastrophic failure to protect its staff from a predatory doctor, who was later convicted of rape. The hearing exposed a culture of inaction and a blatant disregard for employee safety.
The case centred on orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Shola Shonubi, who was employed by the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust. Despite multiple, serious complaints from female colleagues about his sexually predatory behaviour, the trust shockingly failed to take decisive action.
A Pattern of Predatory Behaviour Ignored
The tribunal heard a litany of disturbing incidents that were repeatedly reported to managers. These included:
- Unwanted and inappropriate touching of female staff.
- Aggressive and sexually suggestive comments.
- Creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation within the workplace.
One brave physician's assistant, referred to as Ms. A to protect her identity, made a formal complaint after being sexually assaulted by Shonubi. Astonishingly, the trust's investigation was deemed 'lamentable' by the judges, who found it was more concerned with protecting the trust's reputation than the welfare of its staff.
Trust Prioritised Reputation Over People
The tribunal's ruling was damning. It stated that the trust's handling of the complaints was 'seriously flawed' and displayed a 'want of concern for the women involved'. The panel found that the trust's primary motivation was to 'minimise the fallout' from the scandal rather than address the serious misconduct of its employee.
This failure allowed Shonubi to continue working and ultimately rape a female junior doctor in a call room at the Royal Derby Hospital in 2021. He is now serving a six-year prison sentence.
Systemic Failures and a Call for Change
This case has sent shockwaves through the NHS, raising urgent questions about the safety of healthcare workers and the systems meant to protect them. It highlights a toxic culture where whistleblowers are ignored and predators are allowed to operate with impunity.
The ruling serves as a stark warning to all NHS trusts about their duty of care towards employees. It underscores the critical need for robust, transparent procedures to handle complaints of sexual misconduct and to ensure that patient and staff safety is never compromised.
