Health secretary urges patients to report ‘horrific’ sexual abuse allegations

Health secretary Victoria Atkins has said mental health patients and staff must report the “horrific” sexual abuse allegations uncovered by The Independent to the police.

Ms Atkins said victims would have her full support if they reported their claims to the police.

Her intervention comes following a joint investigation by The Independent and Sky News, which revealed almost 20,000 reports of sexual harassment and abuse on NHS mental health wards in England.

The allegations uncovered include patients claiming to have been raped by staff and other patients while being treated on mental health wards.

In response to the initial investigation, Ms Atkins said a review launched last year into mental health services would now also look into sexual assault within the sector.

Speaking on Sky News, she said: “These are horrific allegations that should not and must not happen in our care. Very, very vulnerable people have to stay in mental health inpatient facilities, and they do so because they need care, support, and treatment.

“Some of the behaviours that have come to light are criminal offences, and so I would encourage anyone who feels able to – and I appreciate it is a difficult step – to go to the police and please report them, because they are crimes and we must drive them out.”

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Source: The Independent, 21 February 2024