NHS staff sexually harassed more than 84,000 times last year

NHS England staff faced more than 84,000 incidents of unwanted sexual behaviour last year, according to a major survey.

A total of 8.67% of employees – more than 58,500 – who responded to the poll said they had suffered from behaviour including “offensive or inappropriate sexualised conversation (including jokes), touching or assault” by patients or members of the public at least once in 2023.

Almost 26,000 staff also said they were the victim of similar incidents carried out by colleagues.

The NHS Staff Survey, which asked workers about their experiences of sexual harassment for the first time, revealed ambulance staff were by far the most likely to be victims of such behaviour – with 9.38% saying they suffered harassment or some form of abuse from their co-workers.

It comes after a Sky News investigation found sexism and harassment was “rife” in the ambulance service, with one woman saying she became suicidal after being locked in an ambulance and sexually assaulted by her colleague.

NHS England said trusts were putting measures in place to protect frontline workers.

Thousands of body cameras were given to ambulance trusts in 2021, so that paramedics could record patients and the public if they become abusive.

The new survey also flagged concerns surrounding bullying, discrimination and patient safety.

Around one in 12 staff – 8.48% – said they faced discrimination at work, the highest percentage since the question was first asked in 2019.

But a higher number – 9.07% – said they faced discrimination from the likes of their managers and colleagues.

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More than a quarter said they had been bullied by patients or the public, while 10% said they had been victimised by managers and almost 19% reported bullying by other colleagues.

The survey found a 6% fall in staff confidence to raise safety concerns since 2021, with one in two respondents saying they were not confident their organisation would address their worries.

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However, the survey also showed NHS staff feel happier than since the start of the pandemic, with over half – 55% – saying they looked forward to coming to work. There was also a drop in the number of workers experiencing burnout.

Dr Navina Evans, NHS England’s chief workforce, training and education office, 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.”

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