A spokesperson for the College of Paramedics said: “The release of the NHS Staff Survey today makes for grim reading. No paramedic or frontline worker should be subject to physical violence, sexual harassment or discrimination whilst carrying out their duties. All abuse is extremely harmful, it is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
“Medical professionals work diligently to serve their patients and their community, they deserve respect, and they must be able to deliver emergency care safely.
“Over recent months, we have engaged with hundreds of our paramedic and learner members about their experiences of physical violence, sexual harassment and racism, and the toll it takes on their health and wellbeing. It’s the reason we are so focused on working with key stakeholders to improve the workplace culture, and why the NHS Sexual Safety Charter is so important for all NHS staff. The launch, this week, of TASC’s Ambulance Staff Sexual Safety Support Service, their new confidential listening ear phoneline, is another welcome resource which will help ensure safety for all those who work in the ambulance service.
“We continue to urge our members to report any incidents of violence, harassment or discrimination that they may encounter. And the College remains dedicated to enhancing the health and wellbeing of our members through the Rejuvenate. Thrive. Breathe paramedic wellness programme which we have offered since 2021. This programme has provided crucial psychological wellbeing support to paramedics, helping them navigate the challenges that often accompany their vital role.”
Press release below;
One in seven NHS staff (14.38%) experienced physical violence from patients, their relatives or other members of the public in 2024, according to the latest annual NHS Staff Survey.
The report reveals attacks on staff has increased since 2023 (13.88%) – though numbers are below the record levels seen between 2020 to 2022 during and following the pandemic.
Staff experiencing discrimination at work reached its highest level in five years (9.25%), with more than half (54.09%) saying the discrimination they received from patients and the public was based on their ethnic background.
One in 12 (8.82%) NHS workers experienced unwanted sexual behaviour – including offensive comments, touching and assault. The proportion of staff affected remains similar to the level reported in 2023 (8.79%) when the question was first asked.
The National Education and Training Survey, which has also been published today, found that 13% of learners experienced or witnessed unwanted, harmful or inappropriate sexual behaviour by patients.
The NHS launched a new national sexual misconduct policy framework in October to ensure NHS trusts had robust policies in place to allow NHS staff to report incidents of sexual misconduct anonymously.
Every ICB and NHS Trust in England has signed up to the NHS Sexual Safety Charter, which commits them to a zero-tolerance approach to letting unwanted behaviours go unaddressed within the workplace.
Dr Navina Evans, Chief Workforce, Training & Education Officer for NHS England said:
“It’s totally unacceptable that NHS staff are facing physical violence, sexual assault and discrimination from patients and the public while at work – and I’d urge anyone affected to report incidents to their employer and the police.
“We know that the most important way to stamp out incidents of unacceptable behaviour is to give people the confidence to report it, and it is important that the voice of every member of NHS staff is heard through these surveys and acted upon.
“The NHS Sexual Safety Charter has also now been adopted by every Integrated Care Board and NHS Trust in England to enforce a zero-tolerance approach to letting unwanted behaviours go unaddressed.”
Nearly three quarters of a million people (744,358) took part in the 2024 NHS Staff Survey – the highest ever level in staff in its 20-year history, and over 43,500 took part in the National Education and Training Survey.
The surveys give a snapshot of what it’s like to work in the NHS, right from the beginning of our colleagues’ careers, throughout their working lives, and into retirement, and are used by NHS organisations to make things better for staff and patients.
The annual staff survey also found that the number of NHS workers satisfied with flexible working options is at its highest level in five years (57.65%) while those achieving a good home and work life balance is at its highest since the question was first asked in 2021 (56.61%).
Staff satisfaction with levels of pay has risen from 25.48% in 2022 to 32.05% in the latest survey, and satisfaction with line managers has also continued to rise with seven in ten workers (72.72%) saying they feel valued at work.
The NHS Staff Survey 2024 is available at https://www.nhsstaffsurveys.com/ and the National Education and Training Survey is available at https://www.hee.nhs.uk/nets-2024 .