‘Failed sterilisation, delays in diagnosis and operation errors’ - More than 3,600 reports of gynaecology negligence across the NHS

“It was absolute torture not knowing why my periods had suddenly stopped and not knowing whether I would be able to have children in the future," says Macey Gray, 29.

More than 3,600 reports of medical negligence relating to gynaecology have been reported to the NHS legal body in the last five years with women suffering unnecessary pain, bowel and bladder damage and infertility.

Data obtained by HerVoiceDaily, has revealed that NHS Trusts have settled more 2,000 legal claims relating to gynaecology medical negligence paying out an eye-watering £170m in damages since 2019. 

The findings follow a damning report from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) in June last year which highlighted how women are being left in ‘debilitating’ pain for years with more than 760,000 on the waiting list for appointments due to gynaecology care ‘crisis.’

In it, experts called for extra funding to speed up treatment for the more than three-quarters of a million women currently on waiting lists.

Thousands of claims and incidents have been reported to NHS Resolution - the health service’s legal body - for injuries including cancer, bowel damage, bladder damage and infertility. 

The leading causes of the injuries ranged from failure and delays in diagnosis, failed sterilisation and failure to warn or gain consent from the patient prior to a procedure or treatment.

HerVoiceDaily spoke to Macey Gray (not her real name) who told us her periods had stopped unexpectedly and it took her three years before she saw a gynaecologist face-to-face. 

“It was absolute torture not knowing why my periods had suddenly stopped and not knowing whether I would be able to have children in the future.”

Ms Gray, now 29, said her periods stopped after her Mother passed away - she had thought it was due to stress. 

“I was sent for blood tests and scans but everything kept coming back normal - I was relieved about that but not knowing the cause for so long so mentally taxing and draining.”

After a three-year wait, Ms Gray is now in touch with a specialist who is working on diagnosing the issue.

The RCOG report added: “Gynaecology has historically been perceived as less important in wider elective recovery, and this has resulted in an increasing number of complex cases, disease progression, emergency admissions and women living in pain and distress: all of which are preventable.”

The report titled ‘Waiting for a way forward: Voices of women and healthcare professionals at the centre of gynaecology care crisis’ also found that 76 per cent of women on waiting lists said their mental health had worsened, while 69 per cent struggled with daily activities, including work. 

Additionally, the results of a survey of gynaecology healthcare professionals found they were “deeply concerned” for their patients, with 65 per cent of primary care and 69 per cent of secondary care clinicians reporting that clinic pressures have harmed their own health and wellbeing. 

The Royal College (ROCG) has urged the government to provide immediate support for those on waiting lists and commit to long-term funding to tackle the “systemic issues” fuelling delays.

Dr Ranee Thakar, President of the RCOG said: “A way forward is urgently needed to tackle the UK gynaecology crisis… NHS staff are also deeply concerned and distressed that they do not have the necessary resources to deliver good care, affecting their own well-being.

“UK government must act now. The RCOG is calling on them to commit to long-term sustained funding to address the systemic issues driving waiting lists, alongside delivering an urgent support package for those currently on waiting lists. 

“The investment will not only benefit thousands of individual women but the wider economy too, because the evidence shows that healthy women are the cornerstone of healthy societies. Get it right for women and everyone benefits.”