Unions and lawyers say NHS sexual safety charter has not improved staff safety

Legal experts and healthcare unions say the NHS sexual safety charter, launched in England in September 2023, has failed to improve the safety of female staff, according to the charity Rights of Women and union surveys. Rights of Women told the Guardian its sexual harassment at work advice line has seen calls from NHS staff rise substantially since the charter rolled out: women in the NHS made up around 11% of callers in 2023, 19% in 2024 and 22% in 2025.

Laura Bolam, the charity's employment law officer, said this trend “highlights that sexual harassment within NHS trusts is not only rising but appears to be an entrenched, systemic issue.” The charity said many callers reported managers were unaware of the charter and described experiences including rape, physical assault and ongoing verbal and sexual harassment, with contacts disproportionately from lower-grade roles such as nurses and healthcare assistants.

A Guardian freedom of information investigation found 212 NHS trusts in England disclosed just over 1,200 incidents of staff-on-staff sexual harm from 2022-23 to 2024-25, while more than two-thirds (93) of acute trusts reported fewer than three such incidents over those three years and 24 recorded none.

Key Topics

Health, Sexual Safety Charter, Nhs, England, Rcn, Worker Protection Act