The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced that a former doctor who worked within two major West Midlands hospital trusts has been charged with a series of serious sexual offences involving patients.
Nathaniel Spencer, 38, from Quinton in Birmingham, is accused of multiple offences said to have occurred between 2017 and 2021 while he was employed at the Royal Stoke University Hospital and Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley. The CPS confirmed that the charges relate to 38 patients.
According to the CPS, Mr Spencer faces:
- 15 counts of sexual assault
- 17 counts of assault by penetration
- Nine counts of sexual assault of a child under 13
- Three counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration
- One count of attempted assault by penetration
Both Staffordshire Police and the CPS have stated they are unable to release further detail at this stage, including whether multiple children are involved, due to the ongoing criminal process.
Mr Spencer is scheduled to appear at the North Staffordshire Justice Centre on 20 January 2026.
Employment background
Mr Spencer previously worked as a resident (junior) doctor at the University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) NHS Trust between August 2017 and August 2020. He then undertook a placement at The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust from August 2020 to April 2021.
Both trusts have set up dedicated helplines for anyone with questions or concerns about their care at the time.
A spokesperson for The Dudley Group said the news would understandably be “very distressing” for patients, staff, and the wider community. UHNM stated it continues to support the ongoing police investigation and emphasised its commitment to patient safety.
Regulatory action
The General Medical Council confirmed that Mr Spencer has been suspended from practising in the UK while it conducts its own fitness-to-practise investigation. This regulatory process will resume once the criminal case has concluded.
Potential civil claims
The trusts will now also face potential civil claims from the affected patients, who may be able to bring claims for damages, providing compensation for what they have been through and costs to assist with any ongoing and future psychological treatment. It is anticipated that NHS Resolution is likely to set up a compensation scheme for individuals to apply to and anyone wishing to do so, should seek independent legal advice. Our head of clinical negligence, Ally Taft, would be happy to speak to anyone affected in confidence.
