A consultant at a major Welsh hospital has been immediately excluded from his duties after video footage circulating on social media led to his arrest on suspicion of child sex offences.
Swansea Bay University Health Board confirmed the 52-year-old doctor, who works at Morriston Hospital in Cwmrhydyceirw near Swansea, was removed from his position whilst investigations continue. A spokesman stated: “We can confirm that police have been made aware of a video circulating on social media involving a member of our staff. Due to the serious nature of the allegations in the video he has been immediately excluded while investigations continue.”
The health board directed further enquiries to South Wales Police, who arrested the consultant on Tuesday evening following reports of a man having engaged in child sex offences. Officers were called to a property in the Rhyd yr Helyg area of Sketty, Swansea, shortly before 8pm on 3 February.
The man was arrested on suspicion of inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity. He has been released on police bail whilst the investigation continues, with detectives continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the allegations.
According to reports, the alert to police came from a paedophile hunting vigilante group who attended the property. Such groups typically pose as underage children online to catch suspected predators, filming confrontations which are then shared on social media platforms.
South Wales Police confirmed they were called to the Sketty address at around 8pm following the report. Officers attended the scene and the consultant was subsequently taken into custody for questioning before being bailed pending further enquiries.
Morriston Hospital serves as the major trauma unit for South West Wales and operates as a teaching hospital for medical students at Swansea University Medical School. The facility has beds for 750 patients and provides specialist services across the region.
The health board’s statement emphasized the serious nature of the allegations contained in the video footage that prompted police involvement. The immediate exclusion of the doctor from hospital duties follows standard safeguarding procedures when staff members face such allegations.
Police investigations into the suspected offences are ongoing, with detectives examining evidence including the video footage that initially raised concerns. The consultant remains on bail whilst officers continue their enquiries into the allegations of attempting to incite sexual activity with a child aged between 13 and 15.
South Wales Police have not provided a timeline for when the investigation might conclude or whether additional charges could be brought. The force continues to handle all further enquiries regarding the case, with the health board maintaining its position that the doctor will remain excluded during the investigation period.
Anyone with information relevant to the investigation has been encouraged to contact South Wales Police. The case will proceed through standard criminal investigation procedures, with any charging decisions to be made following completion of enquiries and consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service.
