NHS chief condemns surgeon's harassment of female medics at Oxford

In the UK, Amanda Pritchard, the chief executive of NHS England, has publicly condemned the actions of Mr. James Gilbert, a surgeon at Oxford University Hospital, who was found guilty of sexually harassing four female colleagues. This misconduct included inappropriate comments and unwanted physical contact, leading to an eight-month suspension by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS). The General Medical Council (GMC) has since appealed for a harsher sanction against Gilbert. The Doctors’ Association has called for his removal from the medical register, highlighting the severity of his actions. Following the allegations, Gilbert was initially excluded from his position in May 2021 but returned to work under restrictions six weeks later. He was ultimately dismissed in May 2022 after the matter was referred to the GMC. Despite being under investigation, he worked as a locum doctor at University Hospitals Sussex Foundation Trust in August 2022, raising concerns about hiring practices and the sharing of information regarding his past conduct. Pritchard emphasized the need for a safe and compassionate environment within the NHS, stating that individuals who engage in predatory behavior should not be allowed to treat patients. In response to these incidents, NHS England has initiated a 'sexual safety charter' and is developing a national policy on sexual misconduct to provide staff with a means to report incidents anonymously. This situation underscores the ongoing challenges within the healthcare system regarding sexual harassment and the importance of robust policies to protect staff and patients alike.