Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Sexual Harassment of Surgeons and Other Medical Professionals

13 December 2023 · 2 other contributors · 3,209 words

Opened by Rosie Duffield Ind Canterbury

Responding minister: Andrew Stephenson

NHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Rosie Duffield raised concerns about sexual harassment of surgeons and other medical professionals in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about sexual assaults in hospitals from January 2019 to 2023, with over 6,500 incidents recorded, including 13 rapes of males and 4,451 sexual assaults against females.
  • The hon. Member for Canterbury urges the Government to implement legislation preventing sexual harassment at work and supporting employees against third-party harassment.
  • The Minister commits to working towards eliminating sexual misconduct in healthcare organisations, aiming for zero staff facing sexual harassment.

Key requests to Government

I urge the Government to implement legislation to prevent sexual harassment at work, support employees against third-party harassment, and apply protections to students undergoing vocational training as well. I call for urgent action to eliminate sexual misconduct in healthcare organisations.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Rosie Duffield Ind Canterbury

I am concerned about the shocking statistics of sexual assaults in hospitals, with over 6,500 rapes and sexual assaults recorded from January 2019 to a period nearly four years later. These include 13 rapes of males and 4,451 sexual assaults against females. Only 4.1% of cases resulted in charges, raising questions about the effectiveness of current monitoring systems and reporting practices. The report also highlights that many victims suffer in silence due to power dynamics within medical training structures.

Other contributors (2)
  • Caroline Nokes Con Romsey and Southampton North

    She agrees with the hon. Lady's point about reporting issues faced by doctors trying to report harassment, citing a witness from Surviving in Scrubs who stated that there is often confusion between trust and GMC responsibilities. There is a real challenge in the NHS where 10% of women reported unwanted sexual conduct in return for career opportunities, highlighting issues related to power dynamics and the need for structural changes to address harassment.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    He congratulates the hon. Lady on securing this debate and highlights a recent survey by the British Medical Association which found that 33% of female and 25% of male respondents had experienced unwanted physical contact in the workplace, noting these are only the figures for those who felt confident enough to come forward.

Government Response

Andrew Stephenson

It is a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Mr Mundell. I am grateful to the hon. Member for Canterbury (Rosie Duffield) for raising this incredibly important issue... We will not be satisfied until the number of staff facing sexual harassment is down to zero.

Get updates like this by email
▸ Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy