What is the NHS sexual safety charter?

The NHS sexual safety charter is a strategy launched in September 2023 by NHS organizations in England to improve how sexual harassment is addressed and to promote a zero-tolerance approach.

Have calls to Rights of Women increased from NHS staff?

Yes, the proportion of calls to Rights of Women's sexual harassment advice line from women working in the NHS has significantly increased since the charter's implementation.

Why is there a discrepancy in reported sexual harm incidents in the NHS?

There's a large gap between the low numbers of incidents reported by NHS trusts and the higher percentage of staff reporting unwanted sexual behavior, suggesting under-reporting and a lack of trust in current processes.

Home / Health / NHS Sexual Safety Charter Fails Staff: Calls Surge

NHS Sexual Safety Charter Fails Staff: Calls Surge

18 Jan

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Summary

NHS sexual safety charter launched in September 2023 has not improved staff safety.
Calls to Rights of Women's advice line from NHS staff have significantly increased.
Discrepancy exists between reported incidents and staff-reported sexual harm experiences.

NHS Sexual Safety Charter Fails Staff: Calls Surge

A key strategy aimed at improving sexual safety for NHS staff in England has been found to be ineffective, with organizations reporting a rise in harassment cases. The NHS sexual safety charter, launched in September 2023, was intended to enhance how hospitals and other NHS bodies address sexual harassment.

However, the charity Rights of Women reports a significant increase in calls from NHS staff since the charter's rollout, with the proportion of their callers working in the NHS doubling between 2023 and 2025. This suggests that sexual harassment within NHS trusts is a systemic problem that the charter has not resolved.

Despite all NHS organizations in England signing the charter and committing to a zero-tolerance approach, investigations reveal that many trusts continue to report improbably low numbers of staff-on-staff sexual harm incidents. This starkly contrasts with the NHS staff survey, where 3.7% of employees reported being targets of unwanted sexual behavior from colleagues in 2024.