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Sexual Harassment at Work Scandal at Ambulance Trust

It has been found that female staff at an ambulance trust were groped and forced to give sexual favours in order to receive promotions. The women who worked at the South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust told those investigating the trust that there were young women in the organisation who were groomed by ‘sexual predators’. They said that staff were propositioned by managers to have sex.

High levels of bullying and sexual harassment

The largest ever study into workplace ill-treatment was independently run, and commissioned after there were complaints in a staff survey which was taken last year. The study was overseen by Professor Duncan Lewis, a leading researcher into bullying and discrimination at Plymouth University.

In the report, which was highly critical, researchers spoke of their ‘shock’ at what they found within the organisation. They said they found high levels of both bullying and sexual harassment in the trust. This was on top of the trust’s failure to meet their targets for emergency calls. The report also found that the employees were going to work in fear daily.

The sexualised behaviour was described as both ‘overt and covert., and investigators were told that the behaviour was ‘embedded’ within the management structure.

Of the 2,000 staff who took part in the inquiry, over 40% of them said that they had been harassed or bullied over the last 12 months. Nearly 20% of those who took part said that they had been abused on daily, weekly or monthly basis’.

The report concluded that: ‘Female staff talked about sexual favours being sought in return for career progression whilst others were hounded by managers seeking sexual favours for personal reasons. Several female staff felt that such behaviours were the norm, with some stating 'my a*** was slapped regularly' and others who felt they were demeaned by highly sexualised gazing in front of colleagues and even patients.’

SECAMB, who work in Kent, Surrey, Sussex and north east Hampshire was ranked inadequate by the CQC, and in September last year it was put into special measures.

It was revealed in February by the Telegraph that one 999 call handler had attempted suicide due to the ‘endemic culture of bullying.’ The trust has seen a number of resignations in the last few months, and now has only one permanent director in its staff.

The Head of the Trust, Paul Sutton, as well as Tony Thorne, the chairman, resigned last year after it was revealed by the Telegraph that they had a part to play in a scheme which saw 20,000 calls deliberately be responded to late. After an acting chairman took over, James Kennedy, the chief operating officer resigned.

Since these resignations, nearly every executive director who was on the board has left their position.

Daren Mochrie, the Chief Executive appointed in April spoke of his disappointment at the bullying and disrespectful behaviour which was rampant within the organisation.

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For experts in employment law, including sexual harassment claims, call Lloyd Donnelly Solicitors now on 02082077358 today, or complete our online enquiry form here.

 

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