Student paramedics urged to call out misconduct

The NHS Sexual Safety Charter aims to address sexual misconduct in healthcare

Student paramedics have a "unique vulnerability" in experiencing sexual misconduct, according to a NHS ambulance trust.

Trainees on placement from university were not always confident to “speak up” and had expectations of professional behaviour, a South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) board meeting heard.

The meeting was updated on the progress of the NHS Sexual Safety Charter, which was adopted by the board at the end of 2023.

Margaret Dalziel, the trust's executive director for quality and nursing, said: “The unique vulnerability of students has really surfaced through.”

The Sexual Safety Charter, launched by the NHS in September 2023, aims to address sexual misconduct in healthcare through clear reporting mechanisms, training and support.

By signing the charter, Secamb said it was committed to "taking and enforcing a zero-tolerance approach" to any unwanted, inappropriate or harmful sexual behaviours within the workplace.

Ms Dalziel told the meeting: "The student cohort is a quiet cohort that suffer as they come out into our services, so that's the ambulance sector as a whole, not just Secamb.

"They don’t know that it’s okay to speak up."

Safeguarding

She described how the service had been working with students at Brighton University and had increased focus on speaking up.

A report into the service's progress to meet the charter said around 650 student paramedics on placement at Secamb will receive training on sexual safety and "speaking up" during their induction.

The board was also assured there is a "strong and robust" safeguarding team and a 24/7 on-call facility.

Ms Dalziel said there was an "incredibly low" tolerance to "any level of banter or harassment we know of” and suspensions related to different sexualised behaviour had increased.

The service aims to comply with the core principles and actions set out in the Sexual Safety Charter by July.