This Me Too moment shames the NHS

This week’s joint investigation by The BMJ and Guardian reveals a culture in the NHS in which sexual assault and harassment are pervasive (doi:10.1136/bmj.p1105bmj.com/me-too-investigation).1 These findings, uncovered after eight months of reporting and five rounds of freedom of information requests, highlight the deficiencies that allow abuse to continue unchecked and are a source of shame for the health service.In the five years to 2022 more than 35 000 cases of rape, sexual assault, harassment, stalking, and abusive remarks were recorded on NHS premises in England. More than half (58%) of these cases involved patients abusing staff. Shockingly, less than 10% of trusts have a dedicated policy to deal with sexual assault and harassment. Many women—and it is predominantly women who are harmed—spoke to The BMJ, some as traumatised by their employer’s lack of support as by the assaults themselves. Fleur Curtis, a physician associate, quit the NHS after being sexually…



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