A comprehensive analysis of National Health Service (NHS) staff has unveiled deeply troubling revelations of sexual harassment, assault, and even rape endured by female surgeons at the hands of their colleagues. The research sheds light on a disturbing reality within the UK surgical workforce, prompting calls for immediate action.

The origins of this study trace back to 2021 when two trainees publicly exposed sexual misconduct within the UK surgery field. Their brave revelations encouraged other women surgeons to share their own harrowing experiences, leading to widespread media attention and responses from various leaders in UK surgery and healthcare.

While some smaller-scale surveys have touched on sexual misconduct in isolated settings and broader issues of sexism, this study marks the first comprehensive attempt to gauge the extent of sexual misconduct perpetrated by colleagues within the UK surgical community.

The study employed various tools to assess sexual misconduct experiences among surgical staff, including witnessing such behavior and being a target of it. The results were deeply unsettling. Among the 1704 participants, 1434 provided sufficient data for the primary analysis, representing a diverse cross-section of the surgical workforce.

Alarming findings reveal that women are significantly more likely to witness and experience sexual misconduct compared to their male counterparts. These experiences ranged from sexual harassment to sexual assault, with some women even reporting rape.

For instance, 89.5% of women surveyed had witnessed sexual harassment, and a staggering 63.3% had personally been targets of such misconduct. Shockingly, 29.9% of women had been the targets of sexual assault within the past five years.

While men were not immune to sexual misconduct, the study highlighted a significant gender gap in both witnessing and being targeted by such behavior. For example, only 17.1% of men witnessed sexual assault, and just 6.9% were targeted, significantly lower than the figures for women.

One disturbing aspect of the findings is the prevalence of sexual coercion, with many women experiencing forced physical contact linked to their career prospects. The survey also revealed that sexual misconduct extended beyond the workplace, with instances of rape occurring at conferences, teaching spaces, and after-work events with colleagues.

The report highlights an urgent need for action to address this pervasive issue within the NHS surgical workforce, with serious implications for patient safety and the well-being of healthcare professionals.