20,000 complaints of sexual abuse in NHS mental health wards since 2019

Nearly 20,000 complaints of sexual assault, abuse, and harassment were recorded in NHS mental health wards since 2019, which has been described as a "national scandal" by fomer Victim's Commissioner Dame Vera Baird.

The number of complaints has risen every year since 2019, with January to August 2023 having more complaints that the entirety of 2019 and 2020.

Worryingly, a vast majority of these cases are not being reported to police. Between 2019 and 2023, more than 800 allegations of sexual assault and rape involving female patients, only led to 95 being reported to the police.

In 2011, the Department of Health committed to eradicating mixed-sex care across all of its inpatient services. However, over 12 years later, hundreds of allegations of rape and sexual assault in mixed-sex wards and shared spaces in NHS England psychiatric care.

Dr Lade Smith, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: "The horrendous findings show that there is still much to do to make sure that patients and staff in mental health trusts are protected from sexual harms at all times.

"It is deeply troubling to see that so few incidents in mental health settings go unreported."

Labour's shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said it was "chilling" that these "horrific" alleged crimes were reported to have taken place in the NHS.

"Very serious questions must urgently be asked of hospital leaders, who have to explain why the vast majority of these incidents were kept from the police," he added. "NHS England must explain why so few trusts have implemented sexual safeguarding protections designed to keep patients safe.

Sky News have told the story of multiple victims, including British youth swimmer Alexis Quinn who escaped from psychiatric care following complaints of sexual assault by male patients. In both instances, the alleged attackers faced no criminal action. Her story is told in their podcast, Patient 11.

More victims have since come forward including a law graduate who described being sexually assaulted by a male staff member before being move to a mixed-gender unit. Another was a mother-of-two who told of "horrific" sexual abuse at the hands of another male staff member.

In 2020, after the Care Quality Commission raised national concerns over sexual abuse in mental health services, the NHS set up new guidelines under its "sexual safety collaboratives". Just six trusts have provided evidence they have met the collaboratives' guidelines, in response to FOI requests.

In a statement, NHS England said:  "We are taking action to ensure the safety of patients and staff, including rolling out better reporting mechanisms, training and support as part of the NHS's new Sexual Safety Charter.  

"NHS England has advised all Trusts and local health systems to appoint a domestic abuse and sexual violence lead to support patients and staff to report incidents and access support, with more than 300 now in place."