Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to prevent sexual harassment and misconduct within the NHS.

National Health Service organisations are responsible for dealing with sexual harassment and misconduct.

In relation to harassment by members of the public or patients, NHS organisations work with their staff, their security teams, their accredited security management advisors, the Police and Crown Prosecution Service to ensure appropriate action is taken to prevent sexual harassment and misconduct in the first place and robust sanctions are taken against perpetrators.

In relation to employees, each NHS trust has appropriate local Dignity at Work and Disciplinary policies in place to respond to issues relating to misconduct, including any type of alleged harassment. These policies are developed in partnership with staff side and reflect Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service guidance on best practice. All trusts have a duty to protect staff from harassment and are advised to ensure they adhere to the Equalities Act in regard to protected characteristics, and training in equality and diversity and the application of associated policies is mandatory in the NHS.

Staff concerned would be dealt with via appropriate trust policies dealing with conduct and would be referred to professional regulatory bodies. Health care professionals are required to register with the relevant professional regulator and to meet standards for registration, and where these standards are not met the regulators can take action.

The NHS nationally is providing support through our programmes to tackle bullying, harassment, violence and abuse.