NSW Health has today released the report of the independent review conducted by Ms Gail Furness SC into the appointments and management of complaints by local health districts about Dr Emil Gayed.

Deputy Secretary of NSW Health, Dr Nigel Lyons, paid tribute to those who came forward before and during the review.

“We would like to thank the brave patients and staff members who contributed to the inquiry. They assisted greatly in identifying the systems failure in the administration of Dr Gayed’s appointments and management, which affected the care he provided,” he said.

“Ensuring that our patients receive quality services and appropriate and safe care remains the priority of NSW Health and we are very sorry that this was not the case for many women who were treated by Dr Gayed.”

Dr Lyons said NSW Health has accepted the report and its recommendations in full. The treatment of more than 50 women has been referred to the Health Care Complaints Commission for investigation.

At the direction of the NSW Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard, NSW Health will also provide the report to NSW Police for investigation and consideration of prosecution.

“Nothing can be done to change the mistakes of the past, but we can ensure that the recommendations in this report are fully implemented to prevent these failures from happening again,” Dr Lyons said.

Since receiving the report, NSW Health has applied a range of changes based on the three key recommendations.

The three recommendations were:

• A review of governance processes to ensure incident reports are monitored at the district level. A review of the incident management reporting system to improve system oversight is currently underway across the NSW Health network;
• Arrangements be in place with VMOs who provide care for their patients using public hospitals, to provide sufficient information to ensure that their care is appropriate. NSW Health will work with key stakeholders to put appropriate processes in place; and
• Ensure adequate oversight of practitioners. All LHDs have been advised of the requirement that where services are reliant on a sole medical practitioner or a small specialist team that these services are subject to external oversight from practitioners in other parts of the District, particularly in regional, rural and remote areas.

In June 2018, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal found Dr Gayed guilty of professional misconduct. Dr Gayed’s medical licence was suspended for three years.

The report is available in full on the NSW Health website at Section 122 Health Services Act: Independent inquiry relating to Dr Emil Gayed.