ICBs have been asked to ensure GP practices and primary care providers receive the support they need to keep staff and patients protected from sexual misconduct.
Practices and primary care organisations are also being urged by NHS England to notify commissioners of any allegations of sexual misconduct made against a member of their team.
NHS England called for this action last week as it announced that further guidance on tackling sexual misconduct will soon be made available to primary care organisations.
This will focus on how the Sexual Safety Charter launched in 2023, and which every NHS trust and ICB has now signed up to, can be adapted to primary care ‘structures’.
Guidance will also consider how a framework drawn up for for ICBs and trusts listing best practice actions and policies for assuring sexual safety can be made more relevant for practices and other primary care providers.
In a letter signed by Dr Claire Fuller, national medical director, NHS England, Professor Meghana Pandit, also national medical director, NHS England and Duncan Burton, chief nursing officer for England said: ‘NHS England is committed to supporting and challenging the system to ensure a sexually safe environment for our staff and patients.
‘We will write to primary care providers with guidance on how sexual safety frameworks such as the Charter and sexual misconduct policy framework may be adapted for their structures’.
In the meantime, NHS England asks that :
- ICBs ensure primary care providers receive the support needed to focus on the sexual safety of their staff and patients
- primary care providers notify their commissioner of any allegations of sexual misconduct made against a member of their team. If the subject of the allegation is on the Performers List (medical, dental and ophthalmic), this should be via the Regional Medical Director Systems Improvement and Professional Standards (MDSIPS).
At the same time, NHS England has issued an updated list of actions for ICBs and trusts to take ‘to identify and act against potential perpetrators of sexual misconduct in the NHS’.
These include carrying out a self-assessment against the sexual safety charter assurance framework so they can review progress; reviewing staff policies and processes to ensure appropriate sharing of concerns about employees with future employers; reviewing chaperone policies; and working with electronic patient records suppliers to monitor unusual access to patient records.
An audit will take place this autumn to review progress of the Sexual Safety Charter’s progress, NHS England said.
The aim of the charter, which has 10 pledges, is to eradicate sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour by offering staff clear reporting mechanisms, training, and support (see also box below).
GP practices and all organisations connected with delivering care for patients, including non-NHS bodies, are able to sign the charter.
The 10 principles of the NHS Sexual Safety Charter
Signatories to the charter commit to a zero-tolerance approach to any unwanted, inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviours towards the workforce. They commit to the following principles and actions to achieve this:
- We will actively work to eradicate sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace.
- We will promote a culture that fosters openness and transparency, and does not tolerate unwanted, harmful and/or inappropriate sexual behaviours.
- We will take an intersectional approach to the sexual safety of our workforce, recognising certain groups will experience sexual harassment and abuse at a disproportionate rate.
- We will provide appropriate support for those in our workforce who experience unwanted, inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviours.
- We will clearly communicate standards of behaviour. This includes expected action for those who witness inappropriate, unwanted and/or harmful sexual behaviour.
- We will ensure appropriate, specific, and clear policies are in place. They will include appropriate and timely action against alleged perpetrators.
- We will ensure appropriate, specific, and clear training is in place.
- We will ensure appropriate reporting mechanisms are in place for those experiencing these behaviours.
- We will take all reports seriously and appropriate and timely action will be taken in all cases.
- We will capture and share data on prevalence and staff experience transparently.
Source: NHS England
