By signing up to the Sexual Safety Charter, SaTH, which runs the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the Princess Royal Hospital, Telford, has committed to a zero-tolerance approach to any unwanted, inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviours towards staff.

Sexual safety covers a range of inappropriate sexual behaviour with different legal and operational definitions and processes. It includes language of a sexualised nature, sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape. Some behaviour will be unlawful, some will not.

As part of this work, SaTH is making it easier for staff to recognise, report and prevent this happening by providing them with clear reporting mechanisms, training and support. The Trust is also developing a staff sexual misconduct policy and an online reporting tool.

Jo Williams, chief executive of SaTH, said: ‘We are committed to ensuring that any member of staff who has experienced inappropriate or harmful sexual behaviours at work is supported by our organisation and that everyone has the tools to support disclosures of sexual misconduct in the workplace appropriately.'

Rhia Boyode, chief people officer, added: ‘By signing the NHS Sexual Safety Charter, we are creating a safe place where staff can come to work every day to provide compassionate care and support to others. For anyone who has experienced sexual abuse or misconduct at work, it is an extremely distressing and isolating experience, and so we must do everything in our power to ensure our staff feel able to speak up, and have absolute confidence that they will be given the support they need when they do.'

NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter in collaboration in September 2023.