MORE than 80,000 cases of unwanted sexual behaviour towards NHS staff took place last year.

The NHS Staff Survey for England, published today, asked workers, for the first time ever, if they had been the target of unwanted sexual behaviour in the previous 12 months.

Of the 675,140 NHS staff that responded 8.67 per cent, or more than 58,000, said they had experienced sexual harassment from patients, their relatives or other members of the public.

A further 3.84 per cent, or almost 26,000, reported unwanted sexual behaviour from colleagues.

The survey, one of the largest of its kind in the world, also found reports of sexual harassment were more prevalent among ambulance staff, nurses and healthcare assistants.

But it was unable to report instances of physical violence against staff from patients, their relatives, members of the public, managers or colleagues due to “an issue with the quality of data.”

Royal College of Nursing director for England Patricia Marquis branded this “deeply concerning” as “we know NHS workers are repeatedly being attacked at work.”

She added: “The findings provide an urgent reality check for government ministers and lay bare the impact of workforce shortages.”

Health union Unison said that harassment, abuse and discrimination have no place in a 21st-century NHS.

Acting deputy head of health Alan Lofthouse said: “Harassment or ill-treatment of any kind is simply wrong. 

“NHS staff must be able to get on with their jobs without the fear of abuse, assault, or ill-treatment from bigots, racists and sexual predators.

“The number of sexually motivated incidents is shocking. 

"Health and emergency workers caring for people and saving lives shouldn’t ever have to suffer attacks, unwanted advances or inappropriate comments.

“Employers need to do more to ensure everyone working in the NHS, using its services or visiting patients knows how to behave and what will happen to them if they don’t.”

NHS Providers deputy chief executive Saffron Cordery said: “More organisations have signed up to NHS England’s sexual safety charter, but much more needs to be done to address this issue and keep staff safe.

“It’s also deeply distressing that front-line staff have faced record levels of discrimination from the public. All staff should be treated with dignity and respect.”