Sexual safety in the NHS
This page provides information and resources that can be used by employers, trade unions and staff in NHS organisations to improve sexual safety and tackle sexual harassment.
Sexual safety in the workplace Staff Standard
In July 2026, DHSC and NHS England launched six NHS Staff Standards, including a sexual safety standard. Staff have the right to feel safe and supported and work in an environment that is free from sexual harassment, abuse and unwanted or inappropriate sexual behaviours. The standard sets out what organisations are expected to do to achieve this.
The NHS Staff Standards are mandatory for secondary care organisations and should be implemented in partnership with trade unions. They represent the minimum standard of provision all staff should expect to receive from their employer.
The SPF was engaged in the development of the NHS Staff Standards and will continue to engage with DHSC and NHS England colleagues on their national implementation and oversight. Read our statement of support.
Sexual safety in healthcare organisational charter
In September 2023, NHS England launched a sexual safety charter. Health and care organisations were asked to commit to a zero-tolerance approach to any unwanted, inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviours within the workplace, and ten core principles and actions, by July 2024. Learn more about the charter on NHSE's website.
National people sexual misconduct people policy framework
On 16 October 2024, NHS England launched a sexual misconduct policy framework for integrated care boards and NHS trusts, to adapt and implement in partnership with their trade union reps.
A sexual misconduct policy based on this framework should ensure that any member of staff who has experienced inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviours at work is supported by their employer.
NHS England has also published:
- A sexual safety charter assurance framework, which sets out the outcomes from each principle in the charter and actions that would assure their delivery.
- NHS England's internal sexual misconduct policy is an example of good practice.
- An e-learning module on understanding sexual misconduct in the workplace, which can be accessed via the NHS learning hub.
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) guidance on sexual harassment
Since 26 October 2024, employers have had a duty to take “reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment towards their employees under the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023. Read updated guidance from EHRC and the employer 8-step guide, both published September 2024. These set out what employers should be doing in light of this duty.
NHS Staff Survey
The NHS Staff Survey 2025 showed 9.07 per cent of staff had experienced unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature in the workplace from patients or service users, their relatives or members of the public, while 3.51 per cent had experienced this from staff or colleagues.
