Southend’s two Members of Parliament, David Burton-Sampson and Bayo Alba, have issued statements in response to growing media attention regarding Dr. Ali Shokouh-Amiri, a consultant at Southend Hospital. The statements come as multiple women under his care demand reassignment to different consultants.
Dr. Shokouh-Amiri, who has been practicing as a gynaecologist at Southend since 2022, was recently deemed “fit to practise” by a medical tribunal. This decision followed his admission to 24 instances of inappropriate behaviour among more than 100 allegations. These incidents took place between 2017 and 2018 while he worked at a hospital in Guernsey before moving to Southend.
In the wake of the tribunal’s findings, a public petition calling for the revocation of Dr. Shokouh-Amiri’s medical licence has gained significant traction, nearing 15,000 signatures. The petition reflects growing concern over his conduct during his tenure at both Guernsey and Southend hospitals.
MP David Burton-Sampson expressed his awareness of the situation, stating, “Both my colleague Bayo Alba and I are aware of the concerns surrounding a gynaecology consultant at Southend Hospital, and we share these concerns. We are awaiting further responses from the hospital as part of our ongoing inquiries.” He also mentioned that a dedicated phone line had been established for patients to report concerns about their gynaecological or obstetric appointments.
Bayo Alba, in his statement, emphasized the importance of ensuring that women feel safe in accessing care. “It is crucial that women can trust the care they receive in gynaecological and obstetric services. We are working closely with the hospital to address these issues and are awaiting additional information,” he said.
In response to the growing public concern, Southend Hospital’s leadership has expressed confidence in Dr. Shokouh-Amiri’s ability to provide safe and effective care. A hospital spokesperson stated, “We understand the strong feelings regarding this case and want to reassure patients that safeguarding procedures are always in place. After an independent review, the tribunal concluded that Dr. Shokouh-Amiri remains fit to practise and continues to work at Southend Hospital in line with the terms of his medical registration.”
Patients who have concerns regarding their gynaecological or obstetric appointments at Southend Hospital are encouraged to contact the newly established enquiry lines for support and clarification. The contact details are as follows:HERE