NHS staff tell of ‘appalling’ sexual harassment

NHS staff including ambulance workers, porters, nurses and cleaners have been shown pornographic images, offered money for sex, and assaulted at work, according to new research.

The Unison union said it is shocked by the findings of a wideranging survey which revealed widespread incidents of sexual harassment.

The study of more than 12,200 health workers, published on the first day of Unison’s annual health conference in Brighton, showed that one in 10 reported unwanted incidents including being touched or kissed, demands for sex in return for favours, and derogatory comments.

Sexual assault was reported by almost a third of respondents, while half said they have been leered at or been the target of suggestive gestures.

One in four said they have suffered unwelcome sexual advances, propositions or demands for sexual favours.

Crude “banter” or “jokes” were the most common issue, reported by three in five workers who had experienced some form of harassment.

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, who described 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, inset, 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 to protect nurses, healthcare assistants, cleaners and other NHS staff from sexual harassment, reassure them their complaints will be fully investigated, and action taken against the perpetrators.

“Employers must take swift action when workers flag up incidents, regardless of whether the sexual harassment has come from a patient or a colleague. Otherwise, this completely unacceptable behaviour will simply continue.”

Comments from staff included: ■ “I have witnessed complete blurred boundaries, observed kissing, men grabbing colleagues from behind and pushing themselves into them. There have been foot rubs, massages. 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. I even had someone pushing a lock of hair behind my ear when I was alone with them.” (Pathology technician, Yorkshire and Humberside).

■ “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.” (Nurse, West Midlands),