Response to Surviving in Scrubs' new report

Responding to Surviving in Scrubs' new report, Professor Vivien Lees, Vice President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and Ms Tamzin Cuming, Chair of the Women in Surgery Forum at the Royal College of Surgeons of England and co-author of the Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery report ‘Breaking the Silence: Addressing Sexual Misconduct in Healthcare’ said:

“The findings and personal testimonies in this report are deeply disturbing and further strengthen the accounts given in the Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery’s recent report, ‘Breaking the Silence: Addressing Sexual Misconduct in Healthcare’.

“There is absolutely no place in our NHS for these abhorrent behaviours. NHS trusts need to take a long, hard look at whether their policies and procedures for sexual misconduct are fit for purpose, as do regulating bodies. It is essential that staff members feel empowered to report instances of misconduct without fear of reprisal or negative impact on their career progression.

“The Royal College of Surgeons of England is taking this issue seriously. We are supporting calls for a National Implementation Panel to oversee progress in tackling these problems by organisations. Additionally, we would like to see reform of reporting and investigation processes of sexual misconduct in healthcare, to improve safety and confidence in raising concerns and to ensure investigations are external, independent and fit for purpose.”