Nurse carried out unnecessary exams on children

A nurse who performed unnecessary intimate examinations on children for his own sexual gratification has been struck off.

Ashley Boyd carried out testicular examinations which were not within his job description, a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) fitness to practice panel heard this month.

Boyd, who worked at Swindon's Great Western Hospital from 2019 to 2024, was warned not to carry out the examinations, including by his line manager.

The hospital said Boyd was suspended as soon as the incidents came to light in January 2024.

Wiltshire Police said it carried out an initial investigation and was advised by the Crown Prosecution Service to refer the case back to the hospital for it to investigate internally.

A spokesperson for the force said it would liaise with the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to determine whether any further criminal investigation is required.

Boyd was a chair of Swindon and Wiltshire Pride from September 2022 to March 2023. In a statement, the organisation said he had no direct contact with children as part of his role and left his position in 2023.

"We are deeply shocked and saddened by this news. Our thoughts are with those affected and their families," it added.

Boyd was also chair of the trust's LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer) network in 2022.

He qualified as an adult nurse in July 2019 and worked as a band five adult nurse at the hospital.

He was not a qualified children's nurse but requested to work in the paediatric area of the emergency department.

He was rostered on as a triage nurse in the paediatric assessment unit when the incidents happened.

His job was to gather basic medical information and observe things like heart rate and blood pressure, but the panel heard he carried out testicular examinations which were not part of his role.

Police interviewed Boyd in August 2023 after a hospital investigation and he was subsequently referred to the NMC.

He faced six misconduct charges relating to incidents which happened between January and August 2023.

He admitted the following four charges:

• Performing intimate examinations on child patients when not authorised to do so and when not clinically indicated
• Performing intimate examinations on child patients when he had been told not to perform them
• On one or more occasions, keeping inadequate and/or sufficient records relating to the intimate examinations
• Not giving a child patient their nebuliser as prescribed by a colleague, without discussing it with said colleague

He denied the following charges but both were found to be proven by the panel:

• That some or all of his conduct was sexually-motivated in that it was carried out for sexual gratification
• Dishonest conduct

The panel concluded Boyd's actions amounted to serious misconduct and he was struck off.

Simran Ghotra represented the NMC at the hearing, which took place from 5-15 January. She said Boyd "performed intimate examinations without clinical justification and for his own desires in pursuit of sexual gratification".

Ghotra added that Boyd was "well aware of the extreme vulnerability" of the children he performed intimate examinations on and said he had taken advantage of his position of trust.

She said the seriousness and gravity of the misconduct meant a striking-off order was needed to maintain professional standards and protect the public.

The panel noted Boyd, who did not attend the hearing, had provided some evidence of reflection and remediation but it added that he had continued to attempt to justify what he did.

The hospital said its chaperone training has been strengthened and a registered professional chaperone was now present for all paediatric patient examinations.

"As soon as we were made aware of allegations involving Ashley Boyd, he was immediately suspended from duty and did not work for the trust again," a spokesperson said.

"We also continue to promote a culture of speaking up, so staff feel confident to raise concerns and know they will be addressed."

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