- Pauline Brewer, 77, was sexually assaulted in a hospital washroom while waiting for an angiogram, leading to ongoing emotional trauma and fear of returning to the hospital setting.
- A study by Professor Jo Phoenix revealed shockingly high levels of sexual abuse in UK healthcare settings, with 33 rapes and assaults occurring every week in hospitals in England and Wales.
- Data from the BMJ shows over 35,000 sexual safety incidents reported in NHS Trusts in England over five years, with patients being the main perpetrators.
- There are calls for better reporting mechanisms, surveillance, and single-sex wards in hospitals to address the pervasive issue of sexual assaults in healthcare settings.
- Victims often face challenges in reporting incidents and seeking justice, with inadequate response from hospital staff and law enforcement contributing to ongoing trauma and lack of accountability for perpetrators.
Source link
Psychiatry & Mental Health, Ob/Gyn & Women’s Health, Emergency Medicine, Public Health & Prevention