Women claim rape by disgraced surgeon

Police were investigating Ledward before he died

More than 60 women who claim they were raped by a disgraced gynaecologist have joined a High Court action against the former health authority which employed him.

Rodney Ledward, formerly of Saltwood, Kent, died in Ireland in October 2000 aged 62, after being struck off by the General Medical Council in 1998 for a series of botched operations.

Solicitor Richard Vosper, who is representing women seeking compensation from the former East Kent Health Authority, said there were now more than 60 women who claim he raped them, some of them several times over a number of years.

Mr Vosper said police were investigating Ledward over allegations of sexual assault at the time of his death.

Lots of people were not able to come forward when he was alive with the prospect of facing him in court

Richard Vosper, solicitor

The women seeking to join the group action had to come forward before a deadline on Thursday.

Mr Vosper said: "None of them are doing it for the money. They are more concerned about getting some recognition that it happened to them.

"It's getting the health authority to acknowledge they were put in an abusive situation.

"They are very concerned that it should not happen again."

Cut-off date

Mr Vosper said people had continued coming forward right up to the cut-off date.

"Lots of people were not able to come forward when he was alive with the prospect of facing him in court," he said.

The alleged incidents happened at William Harvey Hospital, in Ashford, Royal Victoria Hospital in Folkestone, Buckland Hospital in Dover and Deal Hospital between 1980 and Ledward's suspension in 1996.

Individual basis

Mr Vosper said a High Court hearing was due in March to decide a timetable for the group action.

An NHS Litigation Authority spokesman said the claims would be dealt with "on an individual basis but subject to the group's litigation order".

Authority chief executive Stephen Walker said on Wednesday: "The doctor in question is dead and despite the massive profile he had towards the end of his life, none of these allegations were made while he was alive.

"It's certainly a feature of the case that we will bring to the attention of the judge."