'Misogyny' made NHS workers feel unsafe

A report into culture within the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust has highlighted "misogyny" within senior leadership

Senior staff at an under-fire NHS trust experienced "misogyny" from male colleagues and felt "psychologically unsafe", a report has found.

Women working at the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSussex) reported "eye-rolling", "dismissiveness" and "pejorative references to sexuality" made by senior leaders.

The report by healthcare consultancy firm Niche, published on 31 July, also found "significantly more focus" on culture was needed.

Dr Andy Heeps, acting chief executive of the trust, said fundamental issues "need to change, and change quickly".

Six senior members of staff used the term "misogyny" to describe colleagues' behaviour.

One woman reported experiencing "unwanted romantic advances" and "inappropriate comments", but said no action was taken for months after this was shared with senior leaders.

Staff responses also made reference to the gender pay gap at the trust, which runs the Royal Sussex County Hospital as well as sites in Worthing and Chichester, as a "symbol of institutional sexism".

In 2024, the mean hourly pay difference between male and female colleagues in the trust was 16.83% and the gap had increased since 2023, the report found.

Poor behaviour 'tolerated'

The report also found that bad news was "discouraged" by senior leadership and differences in opinion were "unwelcome and dismissed".

Poor behaviour was seen as "pervasive" in areas of the trust, with some saying it was "tolerated" by senior staff.

"Linked to this, a theme emerged around gender dynamics, particularly women in some areas and roles reporting that they feel psychologically unsafe in their working environment", the report added.

The report also included issues regarding environmental policies, with one staff member saying: "Patients are dying in the corridors, this is not the time to be greenwashing the trust."

The report also found poor behaviour was seen as "pervasive" in areas of the trust, with the view of some that it was "tolerated" by senior staff

However, about half of the trust's senior leaders said it was a "nice place to work".

UHSussex is currently the focus of a police investigation looking at more than 200 cases involving allegations of preventable deaths and injuries.

In response to the report, Dr Heeps said: "We have accepted all the recommendations, and we are already working to respond to them. But we will go further.

"Our new strategy will set out how we will develop better leadership and culture across our hospitals.

"This Trust has massive potential, and we want to work with our colleagues to realise that potential."