Tackling Sexual Harassment in Healthcare

Tackling Sexual Harassment in Healthcare

Alistair Murray, associate postgraduate dean for NES and one of the hosts, set the scene by presenting research from the Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery (WPSMS) which has "promoted significant discussion and moved this agenda forward”.

Sexual misconduct happens. It is not new. There have recently been several powerful stories shared in the medical literature and in the wider media by colleagues who have been significantly impacted by this issue. Raising concerns is often difficult - reporting perpetrators of sexual misconduct who may be in positions of power is even more so. Definitions relating to sexual misconduct can be found on the WPSMS website.

A paper by the WPSMS showed 63% of women and 23% of men had been the target of sexual harassment.

In this context, the session was for a multiprofessional audience and was hosted by:

• Alistair Murray, associate postgraduate dean, NES
• Greg Jones, associate postgraduate dean for professional support unit and co-director of the Training Development Well-being Service, NES
• Adam Watson, Senior Solicitor - Employment Team, NHS Scotland Central Legal Office

It explored the following important areas:

• existing policies
• the legal definition of sexual harassment
• educational resources
• changing the culture
• how to access support

Then the panel and attendees took part in an interactive discussion during which they looked at scenarios posed at the beginning of the session, and attendees shared their views.

Greg Jones, associate postgraduate dean for professional support unit and co-director of the Training Development Well-being Service, NES, said:

”…It's also hugely important that this (sexual harassment in healthcare) is not seen as a problem that any one particular group has to fix on their own. This is a problem that has to be fixed by everyone and particularly those people who have been traditionally turning a blind eye or traditionally enabling poor behaviour.”

Turas Learn has a new elearning module on sexual harassment. The resource, hosted in the Equality and Diversity Zone, will help support line managers across the NHS and social care in Scotland to:

• identify sexual harassment
• understand wider gender inequalities
• support fellow colleagues who have experienced sexual misconduct
• highlight relevant policies and good practice that can be used in their own working lives

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