A doctor working in the West Midlands has been charged with sexually assaulting 38 patients across two major NHS hospitals, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Nathaniel Spencer, 38, from Quinton in Birmingham, faces 15 counts of sexual assault, 17 counts of assault by penetration, and nine counts of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13.
He has also been charged with three counts of assaulting a child under 13 by penetration and one count of attempted assault by penetration.
The charges relate to alleged offences committed between 2017 and 2021 at the Royal Stoke University Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent and Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley.
When asked whether multiple children were involved, both the CPS and Staffordshire Police said no further information could be provided at this stage.
Spencer is scheduled to appear at the North Staffordshire Justice Centre on 20 January 2026.
The CPS stated that its decision to prosecute followed a “detailed and complex investigation” carried out by Staffordshire Police.
The doctor has been suspended from practising medicine in the UK while the case proceeds.
Spencer previously worked as a resident (junior) doctor at the University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) NHS Trust from August 2017 to August 2020.
He later completed a placement as a resident doctor at The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust between August 2020 and April 2021.
Both NHS trusts have established dedicated helplines to support any patients who may have concerns about their treatment.
Dr Paul Hudson, operational medical director at The Dudley Group, said the allegations would be “very distressing” for patients, staff, and the wider community.
The trust confirmed it has been cooperating closely with police throughout the investigation.
UHNM issued a statement saying it could not comment further due to the ongoing criminal process but reassured the public that patient safety remains its top priority.
The General Medical Council (GMC) confirmed it has taken action to stop Spencer from practising while it investigates his fitness to practise.
The GMC said its inquiry will continue once the criminal proceedings have concluded, and Spencer will remain suspended until that time.