Retired consultant at centre of patient care inquiry in Derbyshire dies
Daniel Hay, who was the subject of a Derbyshire Constabulary inquiry, was found by a report published in 2025 to have taken shortcuts in his clinical assessment of patients
A former hospital gynaecologist being investigated over allegations of carrying out procedures without patient consent has died.
Daniel Hay, who was the subject of a Derbyshire Constabulary inquiry, was found by a report published in 2025 to have taken shortcuts in his clinical assessment of patients and had shown an “increasing willingness to take risks”.
A statement issued on Wednesday by the Derbyshire force said: “A doctor who was being investigated following allegations of carrying out medical procedures without the consent of a number of women has died.
“Daniel Hay died at hospital of natural causes and detectives have contacted all of those involved in the investigation.
“The force is now reviewing what this latest development means for the investigation moving forwards.”
The force said it will continue to keep in contact with all those involved.
Hundreds of women are known to have been under the care of the ex-consultant when he worked for the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) before his retirement on health grounds in 2020.
A report published in October into the care received by Mr Hay’s patients between 2015 and 2018 found two of them suffered severe physical harm.
On the publication of the report, the trust expressed “deepest apologies” to the women who received care from Mr Hay that was “far below the standards we expect”.
The report, commissioned by the Gynaecology Review Steering Group, which included representations from NHS England, UHDB, and the Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said the mental health of many patients had been “adversely affected” by Mr Hay’s practice.
It also said “the support of colleagues and good fortune prevented further harm being caused”.
Recommendations were made to the trust, including that consultants should not work in isolation at clinics.