Dozens of complaints lodged against disgraced gynaecologist Emil Gayed

A disgraced gynaecologist who was accused of misconduct against seven patients has prompted an independent review by New South Wales Health.

Dr Emil Gayed was banned from practicing medicine in New South Wales earlier this month after the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal found him guilty of misconduct while working at Manning Base Hospital in Taree.

NSW Health's Deputy Secretary, Dr Nigel Lyons, said more than 30 other complaints were made against Dr Gayed over the course of his 26-year career at four of the state's public hospitals.

With more women continuing to come forward, NSW Health did not yet have a final number of complaints, Dr Lyons said.

"There were around nine made at Cooma Hospital, which was back in the early 1990s, and then at Mona Vale Hospital a further 25 or 26 complaints that were followed up by those hospitals at that time," Dr Lyons said.

"We're very concerned that we have found out these issues were more widespread.

"The reason we've initiated this investigation is not just that there were three other hospitals that the doctor had worked at, but that there were complaints made whilst he was working at some of those hospitals by patients."

Among the complaints against Dr Gayed were that he performed gynaecological surgeries without informed consent, failed to diagnose a 10-week pregnancy and unnecessarily removed a patient's ovary, damaging her ureter in the process — all while working at Taree's public hospital.

Each of the four hospitals were directed to make contact with patients who lodged complaints against Dr Gayed, prior his suspension in 2016.

The independent review will examine complaint management and responses, as well as patient safety during his tenure at the four hospitals.

"We know the hospitals had followed up on those complaints, the purpose of the review is to ensure that they had done everything that was required in terms of ensuring safe care for women," Dr Lyons said.

This included reporting to the appropriate authorities and making sure that any conditions on his registration were adhered to while he was working for those hospitals, he said.

"Ensuring our patients receive quality and safe care is our priority and I am very sorry that this has not been the case for some women treated in the past by Dr Gayed."

The report is due back on September 30.

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