The NHS will implement a new system to rate English trusts on their effectiveness in addressing violence, racism, and sexual misconduct against staff. Starting in July, all acute, ambulance, and mental health trusts will be evaluated based on six key measures of workforce wellbeing, impacting over 1.5 million employees.
New Performance Standards for NHS Trusts
This initiative will introduce league tables that rank trusts on their progress in combating violence and racism, in addition to metrics related to waiting lists and A&E performance. Trusts will receive scores from one to four on measures such as flexibility in working arrangements, line management quality, and health support systems.
The minister for secondary care, Karin Smyth, emphasized the importance of treating NHS staff with dignity, stating, “The levels of racism, violence, and sexual harassment reported by staff are completely unacceptable.”
Impact of Violence and Racism on NHS Staff
Recent surveys reveal alarming statistics about NHS staff experiences, with hundreds of thousands reporting incidents of harassment, bullying, and racism. Notably, nearly 10% of NHS workers, including a third of ambulance staff, reported experiencing unwanted sexual behavior in the past year.
