Disgraced gynaecologist may have worked at Grafton Base Hospital in NSW in 1994 and 1995

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

An independent inquiry into a gynaecologist found to have been performing needless and harmful surgeries on women over two decades has been expanded to include a fifth public hospital.

On Friday the chief executive of the Northern New South Wales Local Health District, Wayne Jones, said the district had information that Emil Shawky Gayed may also have worked at Grafton Base Hospital, 500km north-east of Sydney, in 1994 and 1995.

“The district’s focus is on ensuring any woman with concerns about the care she may have received under Dr Gayed is provided with advice and any appropriate follow up assessment,” Jones said. “We will review available records and make direct contact with any patient who has previously raised issues or complaints in the past regarding the treatment they received from Dr Gayed.”

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Earlier in June, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal found Gayed guilty of professional misconduct in reference to his treatment of patients at Manning Base Hospital and banned Gayed from practising medicine for three years. However, by this time Gayed had already relinquished his medical license. He unnecessarily performed a hysterectomy on one woman and removed the healthy fallopian tube of another, that inquiry found.

But following an investigation by Guardian Australia, the NSW Department of Health on Monday announced an independent inquiry into Gayed and his work across two decades at Manning Base, Kempsey, Cooma and Mona Vale public hospitals.

Dedicated hotlines were established for each hospital for patients with concerns about Gayed to call, and Jones said a hotline had now also been set-up for Grafton hospital.

Guardian Australia also revealed that a woman died of cancer after Gayed performed unnecessary surgery which can mask cancer cells.



NSW health deputy secretary Dr Nigel Lyons said the inquiry would also look at the management of any complaints, adverse events or performance issues relating to Gayed and subsequent action taken by each Local Health District.

Barrister Gail Furness Furness, known for her work on the child sexual abuse royal commission, is leading the inquiry and has been asked to report back to the department by 30 September.



A statement released by the Medical Council of NSW on Friday evening said it welcomed the Furness review. The review will include an examination of former NSW Medical Board responses to ‐ and management of ‐ complaints about Gayed.

“The Medical Council welcomes this opportunity to review this matter which is within its remit to protect the public and maintain the trust and confidence of the public in the medical profession,” the Council said.