Doctor Krishna Singh's sex abuse victims to take legal action against NHS Lanarkshire

Victims of sexual abuse at the hands of a community GP will take legal action against the health board that employed him.

Krishna Singh, 72, was convicted of sex crimes against 48 female patients over a 35-year period on Thursday, April 14.

His targets included a rape victim, teenagers and pregnant women.

Most of his offences took place in medical practices in North Lanarkshire, but he also committed abuse while in the accident and emergency department of a hospital, a police station, and while visiting to patients’ homes.

Dr Krishna Singh, 72, abused his position to prey on his many victims over 35 years. STV News

Laura Connor, a partner with Thompsons Solicitors, is head of the firm’s abuse unit and represents two of Singh’s victims who suffered abuse while he worked for NHS Lanarkshire.

“This guilty verdict is vindication for all of Singh’s victims who have been hugely courageous throughout the whole trial process,” she said.

“This man abused women in his community for decades and questions must be asked about how got away with it for so long.

“As with many other abusers who operated on a massive scale he committed his crimes within plain sight cloaked in the garb of a respectable and trusted family doctor.

“I will now begin immediate civil legal proceedings against the relevant authorities to make sure the women I represent are properly compensated for the suffering they’ve been put through.”

At the High Court in Glasgow, Singh was convicted of 54 charges spanning between February 1983 and May 2018.

Detectives from Police Scotland began an investigation into Singh after a woman came forward to report him in 2018.

Detective inspector Stephen Morris, of the Specialist Crime Division, said the GP’s predatory behaviour was “appalling”.

“I hope this conviction provides a sense of closure for the victims and sends a clear message that all reports of sexual abuse, regardless of the passage of time, will be thoroughly investigated by Police Scotland and victims will be supported throughout,” he said.

A spokesperson for NHS Lanarkshire said the health board treated all allegations of this nature extremely seriously.

Dr Linda Findlay, medical director for South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “Krishna Singh’s actions were a despicable breach of trust and a total abuse of the patient-doctor relationship.

“We know that this has been an extremely difficult time for the patients and relatives affected and we thank them for their courage in coming forward to report their concerns to the police.”

Dr Findlay thanked Police Scotland for what she described as a “thorough and meticulous” investigation which has ensured he has been held to account.

“The GP community and health and social care colleagues across Lanarkshire have been shocked by this case and we categorically condemn the actions of Krishna Singh,” she said.

“Our thoughts are with the patients, and their families, who trusted him with their care and safety and have been so badly let down by him.

“While criminal matters should be reported to the police, we want patients to be assured that NHS Lanarkshire will be supportive and proactive in dealing with any concerns brought to our attention.”