All National Health Service organisations have a statutory duty of care to look after the health, safety, and wellbeing of their staff. As such, they are required to protect staff from sexual assault and harassment and to have appropriate policies in place to deal with such issues.

On 23 June 2023, the Chief Delivery Officer of NHS England Steve Russell wrote to Chief Executives of all trusts and integrated care boards about sexual safety of NHS staff and patients. He asked them to appoint a Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Lead and to review associated policies to support staff and patients who experience sexual assault and harassment. He said consideration should also be given to having a dedicated sexual safety policy. A copy of the letter is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/sexual-safety-of-nhs-staff-and-patients/

On 4 September 2023, NHS England launched the health service’s first sexual safety charter for those who work, train, and learn within the healthcare system. The charter is an agreement comprising of 10 pledges, including commitments to provide staff with clear reporting mechanisms, training, and support from managers. Organisations signing up to the charter commit to taking and enforcing a zero-tolerance approach to any form of sexual misconduct in the workplace, with a commitment to implement the pledges by July 2024.

The Care Quality Commission uses its well-led framework to assess leadership, management, and governance in NHS organisations. It can take enforcement action, including in cases where relevant regulations are not complied with.

There are already several routes, both within National Health Service organisations and externally, for NHS staff to raise concerns about anything that gets in the way of delivering safe and high-quality care. NHS England’s national freedom to speak up policy, which all organisations delivering NHS care should adopt by January 2024, sets out the range of internal routes open to staff, including their Local Freedom To Speak Up Guardian, who can support staff to speak up if they feel unable to do so via other routes.

For staff who do not wish to raise a concern within their organisation, there are also several external routes available, including the Care Quality Commission and, if appropriate, the relevant professional body. In addition, we have put in place a Speak Up Direct helpline and website for NHS and social care staff. The service provides advice for staff who want to speak up about something that concerns them in their organisation.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) takes very seriously issues that are raised with them in relation to patient and worker safety. They also use such information to help shape their regulatory action. The CQC normally receives reports on whistle-blowers concerns through its National Customer Service Centre, as well as via their online digital service, healthcare staff or members of the public. When the CQC receives a whistleblowing concern, it is triaged and prioritised for further action.

The information requested is not held centrally. The General Dental Council is the independent regulator of dentists and dental care professionals in the United Kingdom and is responsible for investigating concerns about treatment or the conduct of its registrants.