NHS staff are being shown pornographic images, offered money for sex and sexually assaulted at work, a survey of thousands of workers has uncovered.
A study of more than 12,200 nurses, ambulance workers, porters and cleaners across the UK has found that one in 10 reported unwanted incidents including being touched or kissed, demands for sex in return for favours and derogatory comments.
The survey, which was conducted by Unison, has been published on the first day of the union’s annual health conference in Brighton. It found of those reporting unwanted incidents, sexual assault was reported by almost three in 10 (29%). Half (50%) said they had been leered at or been the target of suggestive gestures, while a quarter (25%) said they had suffered unwelcome sexual advances, propositions or demands for sexual favours.
Crude “banter” or “jokes” were the most common issue, reported by three-fifths of respondents who had experienced some form of harassment, according to the research.
Despite the serious and even criminal nature of some of the incidents, half the staff had not reported sexual harassment to their employer, mainly through fear of being considered “over-sensitive” or a feeling that their employer would not act on their complaint.
Incidents included a 111 adviser, herself a survivor of sexual abuse, being regularly harassed on the phone by anonymous callers. The only response from her managers was to be told it is just part of the job, said Unison.
The union’s general secretary, Christina McAnea, said: “No one should ever have to endure such despicable behaviour, and certainly not in their place of work. But NHS staff often put up with this appalling abuse, not reporting it because they don’t believe they’ll be taken seriously. More must be done.”
A pathology technician from the Yorkshire and Humberside region told the survey: “I have witnessed complete blurred boundaries, observed kissing, men grabbing colleagues from behind and pushing themselves into them … I’ve experienced someone inappropriately stroking my arm, someone sneaking up behind me and jabbing their fingers into my ribs, and someone slapping my bum.”
A nurse from the West Midlands said: “I’ve had comments about my hair, how I look and how they would love to have sex with me, which reminded me of when I was raped at a young age by a male patient.”
A 111 call handler said: “Fairly frequently, members of the public call 111 and try to use it as a sex line. We have a ‘three warnings’ policy before we hang up.”
Commenting on the findings, the chief nursing officer at the Royal College of Nursing, Prof Nicola Ranger, said: “Employers must do all they can to protect staff as they do their jobs and create an environment where they can confidently report incidents and know they will be taken seriously, and all appropriate action will be taken.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “Sexual violence or misconduct of any kind is unacceptable and NHS organisations have a responsibility to protect both staff and patients.
“We encourage any member of staff who have faced these issues to report it within the NHS, and to the police.”
• Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
