Sexual safety in healthcare – organisational charter

Those who work, train and learn within the healthcare system have the right to be safe and feel supported at work.

Organisations across the healthcare system need to work together and individually to tackle unwanted, inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviour in the workplace.

We all have a responsibility to ourselves and our colleagues and must act if we witness these behaviours.

As signatories to this charter, we commit to a zero-tolerance approach to any unwanted, inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviours towards our workforce. We commit to the following principles and actions to achieve this:

  1. We will actively work to eradicate sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace.
  2. We will promote a culture that fosters openness and transparency, and does not tolerate unwanted, harmful and/or inappropriate sexual behaviours.
  3. 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.
  4. We will provide appropriate support for those in our workforce who experience unwanted, inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviours.
  5. We will clearly communicate standards of behaviour. This includes expected action for those who witness inappropriate, unwanted and/or harmful sexual behaviour.
  6. We will ensure appropriate, specific, and clear policies are in place. They will include appropriate and timely action against alleged perpetrators.
  7. We will ensure appropriate, specific, and clear training is in place.
  8. We will ensure appropriate reporting mechanisms are in place for those experiencing these behaviours.
  9. We will take all reports seriously and appropriate and timely action will be taken in all cases.
  10. We will capture and share data on prevalence and staff experience transparently.

These commitments will apply to everyone in our organisation equally.

NHS England, all NHS provider trusts and all integrated care boards have now signed the sexual safety charter.

Other organisations connected with delivering care for patients are also able to sign the charter.

To sign up to the charter and for more information on the national domestic abuse and sexual violence work programme, please email england.domesticabusesexualviolence@nhs.net.

Non-NHS organisations which have signed the charter

For further information about the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Programme, please visit the FutureNHS collaboration platform: Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Programme – Futures Collaboration Platform (login required)

  1. 18 Week Support
  2. Absolute Care Homes (Central) Limited
  3. Active Care Group
  4. Ainsdale Medical Centre
  5. Albion Street Group Practice
  6. Alice House Hospice
  7. Alliance Medical Ltd
  8. Allied Health Professionals and Social Work Professionals
  9. Allied Health Professionals Suffolk, Community Interest Company
  10. Allied Health Professions
  11. Allied Medical Group Ltd
  12. Ambulance Transfers Ltd
  13. Appleby Medical Practice
  14. ARG Healthcare
  15. Arthur Rank Hospice Charity
  16. Association of Ambulance Chief Executives
  17. Association of Anaesthetists
  18. Association of Breast Surgery
  19. Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland
  20. Aurora Medcare
  21. Barrow Smile Centre Ltd
  22. Benenden Hospital
  23. Birchwood Dental Practice
  24. Blackfriars Medical Practice
  25. BrisDoc Healthcare Services Ltd
  26. British and Irish Orthoptic Society
  27. British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN)
  28. British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
  29. British Cardiovascular Society
  30. British Dietetic Association
  31. British Medical Association
  32. British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society (BOMSS)
  33. British Orthopaedic Association
  34. British Society of Gastroenterology
  35. Bromley Healthcare CIC
  36. Care and Custody Police Services
  37. Castlegate and Derwent Surgery
  38. Castle Douglas Medical Group
  39. Castlehead Medical Centre
  40. Cavell
  41. CBC Health Federation
  42. Central Medical Services Ltd
  43. CHEC
  44. Circle Health Group
  45. City Health Care Partnership
  46. Clarendon Surgery
  47. Cleveland Clinic London
  48. Clinical Eye Service Ltd
  49. College of Operating Department Practitioners
  50. College of Paramedics
  51. Collingwood Health Group
  52. Community Hosting and Support
  53. Community Dental Services CIC
  54. Compleo Health Limited
  55. Cornerstone Medical Practice and Irlam Clinic
  56. CSH
  57. Cumberland House Surgery
  58. Cumbria Health Ltd
  59. Cumbria Medical Services, NHS
  60. Cygnet Health Care
  61. Dearden Avenue Medical Practice
  62. DHU Healthcare
  63. Diagnostic Healthcare Ltd
  64. Diaverum UK
  65. East Berkshire Primary Care
  66. East Coast Community Healthcare CIC
  67. East Norfolk Medical Practice
  68. Edinburgh Medical School, The University of Edinburgh
  69. Ellenbrook Medical Centre
  70. Elysium Healthcare
  71. Epsomedical
  72. ER Systems Global
  73. Everyturn Mental Health
  74. Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine – Member of Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
  75. Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management
  76. Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds
  77. Fairford Medical Limited
  78. First Community Health and Care
  79. Fortius Clinic
  80. Fountain Practice
  81. Genesis Care
  82. GKT School of Medical Education, King’s College London
  83. Gloucestershire Managed Services
  84. Glovers Lane Surgery
  85. GTD Healthcare
  86. Hardcore Medical and Ambulance Services
  87. Harwood Group Practice
  88. HCA Healthcare
  89. Head of Workforce Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
  90. Health Services Safety Investigations Body
  91. Health Transportation Group UK Limited
  92. Healthcare Management Trust
  93. HomeLink Healthcare
  94. Horder Healthcare
  95. Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association
  96. Hospital Pharmacy Services Nottingham t/a Trust Pharmacy
  97. Independent Health Group
  98. Independent Healthcare Providers Network
  99. InHealth Group
  100. Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine
  101. Integrated Care 24
  102. Iris Care Group
  103. KIMS Hospital
  104. King Edward VII’s Hospital
  105. Kooth Digital Health Limited
  106. KSS Air Ambulance Service
  107. Lambda Medical Ltd
  108. Langworthy Medical Practice P87027
  109. Leicester Medical School
  110. Livewell Southwest
  111. LivingCare Group
  112. Living Well Partnership
  113. Locala Health and Wellbeing
  114. Longtown Medical Practice
  115. Low Moor Medical Practice
  116. Mayford House Surgery
  117. Medneo Diagnostics UK Limited
  118. Meadows Health Centre
  119. Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit
  120. Modality Partnership
  121. Monton Medical Centre Salford P87620
  122. MSI Reproductive Choices UK
  123. Navigo Health and Social Care CiC
  124. NES Healthcare UK
  125. New Victoria Hospital
  126. Newmedica
  127. NHS Arden and GEM Commissioning Support Unit
  128. NHS Counter Fraud Authority
  129. NHS Employers
  130. NHS Professionals
  131. NHS Property Services
  132. NHS Resolution
  133. NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit
  134. Nimbuscare
  135. North of England Commissioning Support Unit
  136. Northenden Group Practice
  137. Norwich Medical School
  138. Nottingham CityCare Partnership CIC
  139. Nouvita Healthcare
  140. Nuffield Health
  141. One Medical group
  142. OneMedical Property
  143. Operose Health
  144. Orchard Medical Centre
  145. OSD Healthcare
  146. Parkview Medical Centre
  147. Pathfinder Group
  148. PHL Group Ltd
  149. Phoenix Hospital Group
  150. Practice Plus Group
  151. Primary Eyecare Services Limited
  152. Primary Healthcare Darlington
  153. Queenscourt Hospice
  154. Raby Road Dental Centre
  155. Ramsay Health Care UK
  156. Reuts Medical Practice
  157. Richard House Children’s Hospice
  158. Royal College of Anaesthetists
  159. Royal College of Emergency Medicine
  160. Royal College of General Practitioners
  161. Royal College of Nursing
  162. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
  163. Royal College of Ophthalmologists
  164. Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
  165. Royal College of Physicians
  166. Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
  167. Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
  168. Royal College of Podiatry
  169. Royal College of Psychiatrists
  170. Royal College of Radiologists
  171. Royal College of Surgeons of England
  172. Royal Pharmaceutical Society
  173. Royal Trinity Hospice
  174. Salford Medical Centre and The Quays Practice
  175. School of Medicine, University of Sunderland
  176. Salford Primary Care Together
  177. Shoen Clinic
  178. Sirona care and health
  179. Sodexo Health and Care
  180. Sorrel Bank Medical Practice
  181. Soul Optometrists Ltd
  182. Southampton Medical School
  183. SpaMedica Ltd
  184. Spectrum Community Health CiC
  185. Spencer Private Hospitals Limited
  186. Spencer Street Surgery
  187. Spire Healthcare Limited
  188. Springfield Medical Centre
  189. Springhill Hospice
  190. St Andrews Medical Centre
  191. St Clare Hospice
  192. St George’s School of Health and Medical Sciences
  193. St John and St Elizabeth Hospital
  194. St Josephs Hospital
  195. St Oswald’s Hospice
  196. St Thomas Medical Group
  197. Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse (STADA)
  198. Stonehill Medical Centre
  199. Sulis Hospital Bath
  200. Survivors In Transition
  201. SurvivorsUK
  202. TABA Primary Care Network
  203. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
  204. The British Association of Urological Surgeons
  205. The Employee Resilience Company Ltd
  206. The Faculty of Public Health
  207. The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare
  208. The Gill and Oakbank Medical Centres
  209. The Height General Practice – SSP Health
  210. The Lakes Medical Centre (Salford)
  211. The Limes Medical Centre
  212. The Local Primary Care Federation
  213. The London Clinic
  214. The New Foscote Hospital
  215. The Private Clinic
  216. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine
  217. The Royal College of Pathologists
  218. The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
  219. The Sides Medical Centre
  220. The Society of Radiographers
  221. The Springs Medical Practice
  222. The Survivors Trust
  223. The University of Manchester (Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health)
  224. The University of Sheffield (Faculty of Health)
  225. The Willows Surgery (Salford)
  226. Totally Group PLC
  227. Tower House Surgery
  228. Tower Hamlets GP Care Group Community Interest Company
  229. Transform Healthcare
  230. UK Council for Educators of Medical Professionalism
  231. UNISON Health Group
  232. University of Glasgow
  233. University of Portsmouth
  234. University of Suffolk Dental CIC
  235. Vanguard Healthcare Solutions Ltd
  236. Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland
  237. Viaduct Care CIC
  238. Vida Sheffield
  239. Vita Health Group
  240. Vine House Surgery
  241. Wareham Surgery
  242. Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick
  243. We Are Survivors
  244. We Stand
  245. Welbeck Health Partners and Welbeck Group
  246. West Kent Primary Care
  247. Willowbrook Hospice
  248. Wiltshire Health and Care
  249. Windrush Medical Practice
  250. Woodchurch Dental Practice
  251. Wolstanton Medical Centre
  252. Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery
  253. Your Healthcare
  254. Your Medical Services
  255. Zetland Medical Practice