Newport doctor Ibrahim Hayat struck off for sexual misconduct

A GP struck off for sexual misconduct stood as a Labour election candidate after being suspended.

Dr Ibrahim Hayat, 58, was found to have been "sexually motivated" when he touched a female patient inappropriately during a consultation.

Dr Hayat continued to serve as a councillor in Newport after the General Medical Council suspended him in 2020.

Welsh Labour denied it was aware of a sexual misconduct allegation.

However, the party said it knew Dr Hayat had been suspended and reinstated by the GMC.

Dr Hayat said he had told the party about the allegations, but it allowed him to stand in the council's 2022 election.

He has since been struck off the medical register following a tribunal.

The incident happened in 2015 when Dr Hayat was working for the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board as a locum GP.

He conducted an intimate examination of the woman and touched her inappropriately while making suggestive remarks.

Despite the complaint he was allowed to continue his role as a locum GP "subject to agreed restrictions" and remained a councillor in the Pill ward where he had served since 2007.

The GMC said Dr Hayat's conduct was "deplorable".

Its representative said the patient was vulnerable while having an intimate examination and the doctor "took advantage of her to engage in sexually-motivated behaviour" then attempted to "blacken her name".

In her statement the patient said: "I feel like I don't want to see male doctors. I haven't since.

"When I've had to go to the doctors I have waited until I could see a lady doctor whereas in the past I wouldn't have bothered."

Labour said it deselected Dr Hayat in his ward in the run-up to the 2022 elections and instead selected him in the "non-target ward" of Allt-yr-Yn where he failed to take the seat.

Dr Hayat said he chose the change of seat as he was "unlikely to win" and could focus on his own health problems.

A spokesman for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said: "As Dr Hayat was a locum GP contracted by the health board we investigated his conduct in line with our governance arrangements as soon as we were made aware of allegations against him and took appropriate action.

"We subsequently liaised with the General Medical Council who looked into this case and allowed Dr Hayat to continue practising subject to agreed restrictions that ensured the safeguarding of his patients.

"The safeguarding of our patients is our highest priority and we take allegations of misconduct extremely seriously."

Speaking after the hearing, Dr Hayat said he made Newport Council and Welsh Labour aware of the allegations.

"The council knew everything and the party knew everything," he said.

He added the tribunal ruling was an "injustice" but was unlikely to appeal.

"I would have liked to have gone back to work but have not worked for some time due to ill health including breast cancer," he said.

"I would dearly love to take this to appeal in the High Court but I don't have the energy or the resources to take this matter further.

"I need to focus on my health and my loving family. I thank everyone for their support during what has been a long road to try to get justice."