Safe Browsing
Data gathered by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) and the Guardian has revealed that more than 35,000 incidents of sexual misconduct or sexual violence – ranging from derogatory remarks to rape – were recorded on NHS premises in England between 2017 and 2022. Most incidents – 58% – involved patients abusing staff.
Sarah D’Angelis, UK Says No More Programme Manager at Hestia, commented:
“The NHS is supposed to be a place where people can feel safe and supported, both as patients and as staff, so this data is deeply concerning. It’s shocking that only 1 in 10 NHS Trusts having a policy in place for instances of sexual violence – this response is completely inadequate, things need to change.
“As NHS Trusts begin to have conversations to tackle these issues, it’s crucial that expert organisations and survivors have a seat at the table to ensure a robust plan of action is put in place.
“All NHS Trusts should have a sexual violence policy, and a fully-funded plan including access to an Independent Sexual Violence Advocate, and specialised training for staff to enable a confident response to reports of sexual violence. Only then can we begin restoring survivors’ confidence that the NHS takes these issues seriously.”
