A group of surgeons is calling on Wes Streeting to take action regarding the failure of medical schools to address sexual assault and harassment against students. The campaign group Surviving in Scrubs, which represents doctors who have experienced sexual violence in the medical field, has urged the health secretary to compel numerous medical schools to adopt new NHS standards for combating sexual assault and harassment.
In a letter to the health secretary, co-founders of Surviving in Scrubs, Dr. Becky Cox and Dr. Chelcie Jewitt, highlighted that medical students are particularly at risk of experiencing sexual violence, yet many medical schools have not committed to the NHS’ sexual safety charter. Last year, NHS England introduced a new charter outlining protocols for handling sexual assault concerns and enhancing staff protection. Hospitals across the country were instructed by NHS England CEO, Amanda Pritchard, to adhere to this charter earlier in the year.
Following a warning from Surviving in Scrubs in July, which revealed that only three out of 36 medical schools had signed up to the charter, further action has been limited despite a petition signed by 37,000 individuals. The campaign group emphasized the vulnerability of medical students to sexual misconduct due to their lower professional status, which creates a power imbalance conducive to abuse and discourages victims from coming forward.
The letter to Mr. Streeting detailed instances of consultants targeting medical students, who are hesitant to report abuse due to fears of mistreatment or repercussions on their future careers. The group disclosed accounts of perpetrators exploiting training sessions to harass students, including using clinical examinations as opportunities for assault. Earlier this year, a prominent surgeon in Oxford, Dr. James Gilbert, faced disciplinary action by a medical practitioners tribunal for sexually harassing female colleagues, leading to a suspension. The General Medical Council has challenged this decision and is seeking to have Dr. Gilbert removed from practice.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) was contacted for comment on the matter. Sexual assault within the NHS and the lack of accountability among medical schools remain pressing issues that require immediate attention to safeguard the well-being of medical students and professionals.