Review uncovers misogyny and paternalistic culture at major trust

An independent review of a major trust has uncovered claims of misogyny and a failure to deal with “unwanted romantic advances”, HSJ can reveal. 

The damning report into University Hospitals Sussex Foundation Trust found that multiple women reported eye-rolling and dismissiveness in meetings. Female surgeons in particular felt “constantly excluded” by their male colleagues.

The review team also learnt that no action was taken after a female staff member reported unwanted romantic advances and inappropriate comments from senior male colleagues.

The report was written by Niche Health and Social Care Consulting, which specialises in independent investigations. It was commissioned after a poor Care Quality Commission report and “undertakings” from NHS England. It was based around interviews and focus groups with staff, governors and leaders, a survey of board members and a wider survey of more than 1,000 staff members.

The review team found senior leaders said there was a “paternalistic culture” in the organisation, with all decisions passed through the executive.

It called on the trust to build “psychological safety” in the organisation, which was also described as having a “medically dominated culture”, where doctors were “pandered” to.

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Source: HSJ, 31 July 2025