New service creates a safe space for ambulance staff affected by sexual violence

Ambulance staff are frequently subjected to inappropriate behaviour, harassment, and even assault from colleagues, managers, and patients which is why we have just launched a confidential phone and web based Ambulance Staff Sexual Safety Support Service.

We know that The Ambulance Staff Charity (TASC) can’t change the ambulance sector’s culture, this must come from within but we can provide a safe space for those who have been affected by a sexual safety issue. At present, many fear the risk of professional ramifications if they talk about their experiences, and this is where TASC comes in.

This dedicated new service provides a confidential ‘listening ear’ phone line to give people a safe place to talk about and process their experiences and be empowered to take back control if they wish to. As with everything else we do, the creation of this service has been led by our clients and developed with support from people with lived experience to ensure we’re providing a service that people want.

Confidential phone line: 0333 038 6573 available Mon – Fri, 10am – 3pm

While there is still much to be done, TASC is proud to provide more support and solace for ambulance staff and student paramedics who have suffered from a sexual safety issue, offering a much-needed lifeline and a pathway to healing.

The Ambulance Staff Sexual Safety Support Service is a safe place and listening ear for all ambulance staff and student paramedics impacted by sexually inappropriate behaviour, harassment, assault or any other form of sexual violence. No matter where or who was involved, when you’re ready to reach out, TASC is here to listen.

• Independent and confidential
• Run by trained TASC staff with years of experience supporting ambulance workers
• No judgement or bias, just empathetic people here to listen
• We’ll never report your experience to your employer, or force you to either

The phone line is also supported by a dedicated safe space webpage full of details about the service as well as links to helpful resources and information about the long-term cultural changes in the sector.

Background

it seems that a new report highlighting the alarming prevalence of sexual violence within our ambulance services is released every couple of months. Through a very quick web search of last year alone I found five separate reports ranging from ‘trainee paramedics experiencing widespread sexual harassment’ to a female paramedic ‘being hounded for sexual favours in return for passing her training.’

• In 2023, nearly one-third of ambulance staff reported experiencing sexual harassment at work.

• The prevalence of colleagues or other professionals being reported as the perpetrator of all reported sexual harassment of paramedics is over a third.

These statistics paint a troubling picture of the working conditions that many ambulance workers face daily. It’s worth noting that much of the external research focuses on paramedics, but at TASC we’re seeing similar stories of sexually inappropriate behaviour across all job roles, ages and locations.

Around 1 in 7 people we support has been affected by a sexual safety issue in some way, with around 70% of them being women. The issues we see ranges from sexually inappropriate behaviour from a colleague that’s dismissed as banter, to harassment, and even sexual coercion from a manager.

Addressing cultural problems

Ambulance leaders, such as the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, have already acknowledged that misogyny and sexual safety is a deep-seated cultural issue in the ambulance sector. To address and tackle the issue, there have been various measures put in place over the last few years including:

• The creation of the NHS England Sexual Safety Charter in 2023 which all ambulance services in England have signed up to

• The implementation of the Reducing Misogyny & Improving Sexual Safety in the Ambulance Service programme and consensus statement

• The forming of AACE’s National Ambulance Sexual Safety Community of Practice to provide space for discussions around best practice and opportunities to speak to people with lived experience

• The creation of the Freedom to Speak Up Guardian role which all organisations that provide services under the NHS Standard Contract must appoint.

As with any cultural shift, especially one so deeply ingrained, change will take time, and while TASC is dedicated to supporting this shift in any way we can, our focus is on the present and helping the people who are suffering now.

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Read more in this report – NHS review finds serious culture issues within ambulance service.