Ambulance sector vows to improve sexual safety
The ambulance sector has signed up to a consensus statement in a bid to tackle misogyny and improve sexual safety for its staff and patients.
The statement – which chief allied health professions officer for England Suzanne Rastrick launched at this week’s Ambulance Leadership Forum – commits the service to a “cultural transformation”.
Several ambulance trusts have been criticised for a culture which includes “highly sexualised banter” in recent years, with reports highlighting sexual harassment, often of younger female staff.
The statement’s guiding principles include: a focus on protecting staff from misogyny and inappropriate sexual behaviour; removing barriers to speaking up and supporting those affected; and working towards an inclusive culture where staff understand misogyny and come to work feeling “sexually safe”.
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Source: HSJ, 5 October 2023