Ashley Boyd 28

Description

Nurse Struck Off for Unnecessary Intimate Examinations on Children for Sexual Gratification

Ashley Boyd has been struck off the nursing register after performing intimate examinations on children that were not clinically indicated and were done for his own sexual gratification, a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) fitness to practise panel has found.

Boyd worked as a band five adult nurse at Swindon’s Great Western Hospital from 2019 to 2024. He was not a qualified children’s nurse but requested to work in the paediatric area of the emergency department and was rostered as a triage nurse in the paediatric assessment unit. His role was limited to gathering basic medical information and observing vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure. Despite this, and after being warned—including by his line manager—not to do so, he carried out testicular examinations that fell outside his job description.

The hospital said Boyd was suspended as soon as the incidents came to light in January 2024. Wiltshire Police carried out an initial investigation and was advised by the Crown Prosecution Service to refer the case back to the hospital for internal investigation. A police spokesperson said the force would liaise with Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to determine whether any further criminal investigation is required. Boyd was interviewed by police in August 2023 following a hospital investigation and was subsequently referred to the NMC.

He faced six misconduct charges relating to incidents between January and August 2023. He admitted four of them: performing intimate examinations on child patients when not authorised and when not clinically indicated; performing such examinations after being told not to; keeping inadequate records of the examinations; and failing to give a child patient their prescribed nebuliser without discussing it with the colleague who had prescribed it. He denied that some or all of his conduct was sexually motivated and that he had acted dishonestly, but the panel found both charges proven.

The panel concluded that Boyd’s actions amounted to serious misconduct. Simran Ghotra, representing the NMC at the hearing (held 5–15 January), said Boyd “performed intimate examinations without clinical justification and for his own desires in pursuit of sexual gratification.” She added that he was “well aware of the extreme vulnerability” of the children and had taken advantage of his position of trust. The panel noted that while Boyd (who did not attend) had provided some evidence of reflection and remediation, he continued to attempt to justify his actions. A striking-off order was imposed to maintain professional standards and protect the public.

Boyd was chair of Swindon and Wiltshire Pride from September 2022 to March 2023. The organisation said he had no direct contact with children in that role and left in 2023. “We are deeply shocked and saddened by this news. Our thoughts are with those affected and their families,” it said. He was also chair of the trust’s LGBTQ+ network in 2022.

The hospital stated that chaperone training has been strengthened and a registered professional chaperone is 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.”