Frontline NHS staff, including dentists, are facing record levels of discrimination and unwanted sexual behaviour from the public.
This is according to a new nationwide survey.
One in 12 NHS staff who responded to the poll said they faced discrimination while treating patients at work – the highest percentage since the question was first asked in 2019.
For the first time ever, NHS staff were asked if they had experienced sexual harassment while at work. The survey reveals healthcare workers experienced ‘unacceptable’ levels of unwanted sexual behaviour from the public last year – with 58,000 reporting such incidents.
Colleague behaviour
The results show just under 9% of 675,000 NHS workers suffered sexual harassment from patients, patients’ relatives or other members of the public in 2023.
In addition, 18% of medical and dental staff in training have been the target of unwanted sexual behaviour in the NHS.
Ambulance staff were also particularly affected by sexual harassment, with just under a quarter of staff reporting unwanted sexual behaviour from the public last year.
The survey also found that just under 4% of NHS staff faced unwanted sexual behaviour from colleagues
‘It is essential that staff members feel empowered to report instances of misconduct without fear of reprisal or negative impact on their career progression. They also need to feel confident that reports will be believed.’
Professor Vivien Lees
Important first step
Professor Vivien Lees is vice president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) and lead on sexual misconduct. She called the survey results an ‘important step’ in understanding the extent of sexual misconduct within UK healthcare.
She said: ‘For the first time, the NHS Staff Survey asked respondents if they had been the target of unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature in the workplace. Gathering this data is an important step as it gives us a better picture of the scale of the problem.
‘It is essential that staff members feel empowered to report instances of misconduct without fear of reprisal or negative impact on their career progression. They also need to feel confident that reports will be believed.
‘As an important first step, we have written to NHS trusts that haven’t yet signed the NHS sexual safety in healthcare charter, encouraging them to do so as soon as possible. RCS England is actively lobbying accountable government and NHS organisations on the Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery (WPSMS) recommendations including the need for reforms of reporting and investigation processes.
‘There is absolutely no place in healthcare for these abhorrent behaviours. RCS England is committed to a zero-tolerance approach to sexual misconduct, and we will actively work to eradicate this behaviour in surgery and healthcare. The charter, which we have signed, requires healthcare organisations to ensure appropriate policies and reporting mechanisms are in place for sexual misconduct.’
Unacceptable behaviour
Dr Navina Evans, chief workforce, training and education officer, said: ‘It is very distressing that more than 58,000 NHS staff reported experiencing unwanted sexual behaviour from the public last year and such conduct should not be tolerated in the NHS.
‘That is why the NHS launched its first ever sexual safety charter last year which provides clear commitments to improve reporting on unacceptable behaviour, as well appointing more than 300 domestic abuse and sexual violence leads who will review and improve trust policies for reporting of sexual harassment.
‘While there is still more to do, it is good news that less than 12 months on from the publication of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan staff are happier at work than last year thanks to initiatives such as flexible working hours, clinical support squads to help menopausal women at work, and HR stay advocates.’
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