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 tackle sexual misconduct in the NHS.

NHS England is taking a leading role in tackling sexual misconduct across the National Health Service. The NHS has a responsibility to protect staff, patients, and service users and offer safe spaces and routes for support.

In 2024, NHS England launched a new national sexual misconduct people policy framework and sexual safety charter assurance framework for integrated care bards (ICBs) and trusts to adopt and adapt, so that any member of staff who has experienced inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviours at work is supported by their employer. The frameworks are available at the following links:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-people-sexual-misconduct-policy-framework/

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/sexual-safety-charter-assurance-framework/

The new guidance was published following the launch in 2023 of the first-ever Sexual Safety Charter in collaboration with healthcare systems and people with lived experience of sexual misconduct. The Charter focuses on providing staff with clear reporting mechanisms, training and support, and ensuring that a zero-tolerance approach is taken by organisations.

All ICBs and trusts have signed the Sexual Safety Charter and are taking steps to prevent sexual misconduct at work. They have also been asked to appoint a domestic abuse and sexual violence lead to implement the new sexual misconduct guidance, review policies and provide support to staff relating to domestic abuse and sexual violence. There are now more than 300 in place across England.

NHS England, in collaboration with those with lived experience, has also developed NHS-wide training on sexual misconduct awareness, now available to the entire workforce.